Man Poisoned Kin's Meatballs With Visine

DECEMBER 15--After purchasing a meatball sandwich for his nephew, a Florida Man poured Visine all over the food, which was later partially consumed by his relative, according to police who arrested the man on a felony poisoning charge.

Investigators say James Leach, 45, was at a market near his Pinellas Park home Wednesday evening when he asked an employee “for a bottle of ‘Visine’ due to having dry eyes.”

Upon securing the Visine, Leach allegedly opened a container of food and “proceeded to pour the eye drop solution all over the meatball sandwich” inside, according to an arrest affidavit.

When the worker declared that the liquid “could hurt someone,” Leach reportedly replied that it would only cause the victim to “shit himself and puke his brains out.”  Visine’s active ingredient, tetrahydrozoline hydrochloride, can actually be lethal if ingested.

The market employee, who described Leach as a regular customer, said the suspect had issues with his nephew and declared that he “hated” his kin. Leach and the victim reside together and “have a long history of domestic related issues,” say cops, who added that officers have answered several prior calls for service at the pair’s home.

After receiving a 911 call from the market, police reviewed store security footage which, the affidavit states, clearly showed Leach dousing the meatball sandwich with Visine.

When police subsequently arrived at Leach’s home, he declined to answer questions and requested a lawyer. The victim said he had only consumed a “small portion” of the sandwich before cops showed up and was unaware that Visine had been added to his meal. While medical help was summoned for the victim, he “ultimately refused treatment.”

Seen above, Leach was charged with the poisoning of food or water, a felony for which he is locked up in lieu of $50,000 bond. A judge has ordered Leach, who has pleaded not guilty, to have no contact with the victim.

Leach’s rap sheet includes convictions for improper exhibition of a firearm and resisting or obstructing police without violence. (1 page)