CHATTANOOGA, TN (WTVC/CNN) – A former waitress in Tennessee faces drug-related charges after investigators say a bag of her cocaine fell into a glass of water brought to an off-duty sheriff’s deputy.
Police arrested Jekievea Monchell Yearby May 25 on assault and possession charges after a bag of cocaine fell into the drink of Hamilton County Sheriff’s Deputy Rick Wolfe while the waitress took his order at Steak & Shake.
According to an affidavit, Yearby told police the cocaine belonged to her and must have mistakenly fallen from her waitress book into the water.
Court records say police and a Steak & Shake manager reviewed video of what happened. The owner says the incident was an accident and the drink was already in front of the deputy when the cocaine fell in.
Even so, some customers say they’re hesitant to eat at the restaurant now.
"What if somebody had a reaction and they weren't an off-duty cop and they wouldn't know what to do? And what if the staff didn’t know what to do either?" said customer Mike Skates, who decided to eat elsewhere.
When officers took Yearby into custody, she told police she had another baggie of cocaine in her bra, the affidavit says. Police say they found 0.7 grams of cocaine on Yearby in all.
Yearby says she does not have a drug problem and does not use drugs at all. She says she doesn’t work at Steak & Shake anymore.
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