News

Actions

Judge: Man accused in store poisoning incompetent for trial

Posted at 12:26 PM, Jul 22, 2016
and last updated 2016-07-22 12:26:40-04

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — A judge says a Michigan man accused of poisoning unpackaged food at grocery stores earlier this year isn’t competent to stand trial.

The Ann Arbor News reports Washtenaw County District Court Judge Cedric Simpson made the ruling Thursday in the case of 29-year-old Kyle Bessemer after a doctor’s evaluation.

Steve Hiller, Washtenaw County chief assistant prosecutor, says Bessemer will stay at the state’s Center for Forensic Psychiatry until a Sept. 22 review hearing. He faces food poisoning charges.

Bessemer’s lawyer had requested the mental evaluation.

The FBI says Bessemer admitted spraying a mixture of hand sanitizer, mouse poison and water on produce and food bars at three local supermarkets: Whole Foods, Meijer and Plum Market. Investigators have said Bessemer indicated he thought someone was trying to poison him.