KFVS12 News & Weather Cape Girardeau, Carbondale, Poplar BluffHealth dept calls meth arrest at Sonic a first

Health dept calls meth arrest at Sonic a first

By Crystal Britt - bio | email

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KFVS) - Closed for business. Workers at the Sonic on Broadway Street in Cape Girardeau spent the day Thursday not serving customers, but cleaning.

"We've never really worked anything like this before especially involving a food establishment" said Amy Morris with the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center.

Morris said she got an early morning phone call that nearly left her speechless. Officers told her a sonic manager had just been arrested for trying to make meth in the restaurant.
     
Morris said she spent a good part of the day calling other agencies looking for direction.

"I haven't heard anyone else in the state say they've dealt with anything like this and we've been on multiple phone calls all morning" she said.
     
The arrest was pretty shocking for officers too.

"This is one of the more unusual places we've run into this," said Sgt. Jason Selzer with the Cape Girardeau Police Department.
     
Sgt. Selzer says officers went to the restaurant after the burglar alarm went off and found a man wearing a Sonic uniform.

"They contacted the responsible party who said there shouldn't be anyone there this late,"said Selzer.
    
Police say 27-year-old Dennie Bratcher had apparently worked a night shift then came back after closing.
     
Police say Bratcher told them he planned to make the meth on the roof but it was too cold, so he headed for the kitchen.

"He'd definitely taken on several steps to starting the process," Selzer said.  "There were active chemicals."
     
It was because of that threat, Sonic workers are now going to have to completely re-stock the store.

"We're talking everything from sugar packets to hamburgers, to straws to the ice cream in the machines," said Amy Morris.
     
Sonic managers offered no comment on the situation but the health department says you should not worry about eating there in the future.

"it's going to be 100 percent safe before we let them re-open again," Morris said.

Sonic could be back in business as early as Friday morning.  However, the store has to clear a thorough inspection by the health department first.

Meanwhile, Dennie Bratcher is behind bars.  His bond is set at $30,000 dollars.

Bratcher also had a warrant out for his arrest in Ste. Genevieve for failing to appear in court for a speeding violation.

Click here to see the probable cause statement.

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