APD: DNA links suspect to yogurt case

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - DNA test results are back on a grocery store worker accused of putting his semen in a yogurt sample he handed out to a female customer.

And, according to police, it's a match for Anthony Garcia, 31, the employee accused of offering the sabotaged sample at the store on Corrales Road at Alameda Boulevard late last month.

Police also said there may be more people who tried the now infamous semen-laced yogurt sample.

"The fact that someone would actually intentionally do that to someone is extremely disturbing," Albuquerque Police Sergeant Trish Hoffman said.

Police need the DNA match to arrest the grocery store worker, which they still have not done. Police are still trying to figure out what to charge him with.

"We are looking at federal agencies as well to determine if that is something they will pick up," Sgt. Hoffman said.

APD is talking with the Food and Drug Administration about charging Garcia under federal food tampering laws.

Those laws carry tougher penalties than the state charge of misdemeanor battery, which carries a maximum of six months behind bars.

APD said other women have come forward concerned that they may have been duped by Garcia into trying tainted food samples.

"If in fact it was attempted before, what was the outcome?", Hoffman said. "Did he actually try to pass that in some other type of food, is it something (where) he was targeting woman?"

An employee at Sunflower, who asked not to be identified, said he was shocked to find out about Garcia.

"He was kinda quiet," the employee said. "Seemed like a pretty cool guy, so it's a little strange."

Garcia was arrested in late January, the night this all started, for not showing up to court on child molestation charges.

He no longer works at Sunflower Market.

APD said no diseases were found in the semen handed out at Sunflower Market.

The woman who unknowingly sampled the semen spit it out and called police. Police then retrieved the substance from a store trash can and had it tested. The victim has now hired a lawyer.

Her lawyer said they have not filed a lawsuit at this point, but they are looking into it.

Sunflower Market still is not commenting on the story.

In the police report, Garcia admitted he often handed out food samples on his own.

A store manager told police no one was scheduled to hand out samples on the floor the evening of the semen incident.