A DoorDash delivery in Evansville, Indiana has turned into a criminal investigation after home security footage appeared to show a driver allegedly pepper-spraying a customer’s food order before walking away. The incident, which took place in the early morning hours of December 7, has since gone viral and raised concerns about safety in the growing world of app-based food delivery.
The Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office confirmed this week that a probe is underway after a local couple reported getting sick after eating their food. The delivery came from Arby’s, and was dropped off by a woman with purple hair, according to doorbell camera video.
The video shows the driver approaching the home, placing the bag down, appearing to take a photo of the delivery as usual, and then pulling out a small spray canister from her jacket. She appears to spray the food bag, put the item back into her pocket, and walk away without saying a word.
Moments later, according to local resident Mark Cardin, things went downhill quickly.
“I noticed my wife had started eating, and she started choking and gasping,” Cardin told WFIE, a local news outlet. “After she had a couple bites of her food, she actually threw up.”
Cardin said that at first, they didn’t know what was wrong. But after noticing something strange on the bag, he reviewed his doorbell camera footage and saw what had happened.
“The bag had been tampered with,” he said. “The lady who dropped the food off had actually tampered with it on purpose for some reason.”
The couple says they do not know the driver and have never had an issue with food deliveries before. Cardin added on Facebook that the driver blocked him on the DoorDash app immediately after the delivery, leaving him unable to report her directly through the platform.
BREAKING: A Door Dash driver in Evansville, Indiana was banned from making further deliveries after a couple said the driver put pepper spray in their food. The wife, Mandy Cardin, said she got sick from it.
– Should be arrested, this is crime.
— Lilymar (@Lilymarwe3az) December 10, 2025
BREAKING: A Door Dash driver in Evansville, Indiana was banned from making further deliveries after a couple said the driver put pepper spray in their food. The wife, Mandy Cardin, said she got sick from it.
Officials say the case is being taken seriously and that it could have ended far worse.
“It’s horrific,” Cardin told reporters. “We assume it’s pepper spray. That’s more than likely what it is, but now, in this day and age, it could’ve been anything. It could’ve been rat poison. It could’ve been fentanyl. I mean, my wife could’ve been dead.”
Doorbell cam shows the driver tampering with the food on purpose.
This isn’t just “bad service”. This is a felony.
People are trusting you… pic.twitter.com/vMffRmf6Ru
— Brandon Tatum (@TheOfficerTatum) December 10, 2025
NEW: A DoorDash driver pepper-sprayed a family’s Arby’s order in Indiana… and the wife started choking and vomiting after a few bites.The couple was not hospitalized, but they described experiencing burning sensations in their mouths, throats, and noses after eating the food. The sheriff’s office said the symptoms were consistent with some kind of chemical irritant and that samples are being tested.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, DoorDash confirmed that the driver involved in the incident has been removed from the platform.
“We have zero tolerance for this type of appalling behavior,” the company said. “The Dasher in question has been permanently removed from the platform, and our team is standing by to support law enforcement with any investigation.”
DoorDash also issued a refund to the couple.
As of now, the driver’s name has not been released, and no arrests have been made. Authorities say they are working closely with DoorDash to identify the individual and continue their investigation.
The sheriff’s office has asked anyone with similar experiences or related information to come forward as the case develops.
With the holiday season in full swing and more families relying on delivery services, this incident is raising questions about how gig workers are screened—and how customers can feel safe when using food delivery apps.
