Surveillance and a customer's complaint prompted investigators to allege a DoorDash driver pepper-sprayed Arby’s delivery bags during a Dec. 7 drop-off in Vanderburgh County, Indiana. The driver, Kourtney N. Stevenson, told police she sprayed to kill a spider, but officials said the 35°F temperature that night made that explanation unlikely. Stevenson was arrested in McCracken County, Kentucky, on Dec. 12 and faces multiple felony charges, including battery and consumer product tampering. DoorDash has permanently removed her from the platform and is cooperating with authorities.
DoorDash Driver Arrested After Allegedly Pepper-Spraying Delivered Arby's Bags — She Says She Was Killing A Spider
Inside Edition/YouTubeDoordash Driver Spray Pepper Spray On Food Order
A DoorDash driver has been arrested after surveillance footage and a customer’s report indicated pepper spray was used on delivered food bags during a Dec. 7 drop-off in Vanderburgh County, Indiana.
Authorities identified the driver as Kourtney N. Stevenson. According to the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office, the complaint began when customer Mark Cardin told police his wife began choking and gasping for air after eating their Arby’s order. Cardin reviewed his home security camera footage and said he observed Stevenson spraying what he believed was pepper spray on the outside of the Arby’s bags.
Inside Edition/YouTubeKourtney N. Stevenson from Kentucky allegedly pepper-spraying food delivery on Dec. 7
Investigators subpoenaed DoorDash records to identify the driver. In an initial phone interview with detectives, Stevenson — who lives in Kentucky and said she was temporarily working in Evansville while visiting her father — admitted to using pepper spray, but denied intentionally contaminating the food. She told police she sprayed because she saw a spider near the delivery and was attempting to kill it, the sheriff’s office said.
Officials cast doubt on that explanation. The sheriff’s office noted the temperature that night was about 35°F, and said local spiders would typically be inactive and unlikely to be crawling on exposed surfaces in those conditions.
Inside Edition/YouTubeKourtney N. Stevenson from Kentucky allegedly pepper-spraying food delivery on Dec. 7
DoorDash told PEOPLE it has "absolutely zero tolerance for this type of appalling behavior," saying the driver’s access to the platform has been permanently removed and that the company is cooperating with law enforcement.
Vanderburgh County Sheriff Noah Robinson stressed public safety and trust in delivery services: "When someone violates that trust and endangers others, we will respond with urgency and we will pursue charges," the office said.
Stevenson refused to appear in person for a second interview, prompting detectives to seek a warrant. She was arrested by the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office in Kentucky on Dec. 12. Prosecutors charged her with two counts of Battery Resulting in Moderate Injury — Level 6 felonies — and two counts of Consumer Product Tampering — Level 5 felonies. The warrant bond is listed at $3,500; authorities said she will be held without bond until transported to Indiana.
What remains unclear: investigators are continuing to review the video footage, the delivery timeline and medical reports to determine whether the pepper spray was applied directly to the food bags and how the victim was exposed.
