A DoorDash driver in Indiana has been arrested after being caught on a doorbell camera allegedly spraying a customer's meal with pepper spray, leaving the couple sick. Kourtney Stevenson, 29, faces charges of felony battery and consumer product tampering, the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office said.
The incident occurred in Evansville, Indiana, when a man and his wife ordered food via DoorDash shortly after midnight on 7 December. After eating, they vomited and experienced burning sensations in their mouths, noses, throats and stomachs. Reviewing their doorbell footage, they saw the driver spray a substance from a small aerosol can on a key chain towards the food.
DoorDash confirmed that Stevenson's access to the platform had been permanently removed, stating there was 'zero tolerance' for such behaviour. The company is cooperating with law enforcement.
Stevenson told investigators she used the pepper spray to kill a spider that frightened her, but detectives dismissed this, noting the temperature was 35°F (1.7°C) — too cold for outdoor spiders in Indiana to be active. She initially agreed to meet with investigators but later backed out, leading to a warrant for her arrest.
She was taken into custody in McCracken County, Kentucky, where she lives, and is being held without bail pending extradition to Vanderburgh County. The victim, identified as Mark Cardin by local media, said he ordered from Arby's and expressed concern that 'it could have been rat poison or fentanyl'. Sheriff Noah Robinson emphasised that residents should trust their food is safe and that violations will be pursued.
