Authorities in Vanderburgh County, Indiana, are investigating a doorbell-camera clip that appears to show a DoorDash driver spraying a delivered food order with an alleged irritant substance, the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office said.
Customer Mark Cardin told NBC News that his wife began choking and vomited after taking a bite from the meal last weekend. Her symptoms reportedly improved within about 10 minutes.
Video Footage And Allegations
Cardin reviewed footage from his home’s doorbell camera and provided a short clip to NBC News. The video shows a female driver approach the front door and set a paper bag down. After what Cardin described as an app glitch that removed a few seconds of footage, the clip shows the driver apparently spraying something onto the bag before walking away.
Cardin said he noticed a reddish substance on the paper bag and that he "definitely inhaled some fumes off of it." He tried to contact the driver but said the person had blocked him; he then reported the incident to the delivery platform and to local authorities.
Investigation Status
Vanderburgh County Sheriff Noah Robinson told reporters investigators are working to authenticate the video but said he has no reason to doubt its genuineness. Citing the need to protect the integrity of the inquiry, Robinson declined to disclose specific investigative steps or whether the substance has been identified.
The sheriff’s office confirmed there have been no arrests and the driver’s identity has not been publicly verified.
DoorDash said it revoked the driver’s access to the platform and is cooperating with law enforcement. 'We have absolutely zero tolerance for this type of appalling behavior,' the company said.
Possible Charges
Sheriff Robinson said that if the allegations are substantiated, the driver could face charges ranging from misdemeanor battery to felony food tampering, depending on the evidence.
The case remains under active investigation by local authorities. NBC News reported on the incident and provided the original footage to local investigators.
