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CBS News
2 days ago
- CBS News
Cafeteria worker accused of ordering lobster on Plymouth school account for his restaurant
The director of the Plymouth Public Schools cafeterias in Massachusetts is under arrest after he allegedly ordered expensive food, including lobster, and restaurant equipment through the school for his own restaurant on Cape Cod. According to prosecutors, an anonymous letter from a school employee was sent to the superintendent's office, saying 62-year-old Patrick VanCott was stealing school food and kitchen equipment for his business, the Snack Shack at Sandy Neck Beach in Barnstable. VanCott was in charge of the cafeteria system for the entire district. Allegedly ordered lobster on school account Investigators said they spoke to cafeteria employees, who said they noticed irregular ordering of kitchen equipment and food that would not normally go to the school district. The food included lobster meat, premium Angus hamburgers and hot dogs, none of which are served to students. One cafeteria worker allegedly told police she had worked for the school for 16 years and had seen VanCott taking deli meats, premium food products and condiments ordered with the Plymouth School Department account from the building. Items allegedly found at his Cape Cod business Security video also allegedly caught VanCott taking a refrigerator unit from the school to Cape Cod. Prosecutors said items purchased by VanCott missing from the district include a freezer, oven, microwave and pans. Items linked to the school district were allegedly found at his business. The Snack Shack at Sandy Neck Beach in Barnstable, Massachusetts. CBS Boston VanCott was arraigned on Friday, where he pleaded not guilty to charges including larceny from a building and larceny over $1,200. "These charges are significant and he has just effectively destroyed the trust of the town and the taxpayers in the town of Plymouth who rely on the money that is earmarked for children in need of school breakfast and lunch to go towards that," said Plymouth County Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth O'Connell. "He has taken that and he has used it for his own personal gain." VanCott's attorney didn't argue the facts of the case in court but questioned the prosecutors' value of the items and a request for high cash bail. The judge ordered VanCott to be held on $50,000 cash bail, give up his passport and not go near Plymouth schools.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Plymouth schools food director accused of stealing lobster, refrigerators for his Cape Cod business
The food services director for Plymouth Public Schools is accused of stealing lobster, meats and commercial refrigerators from the district for use at his Cape Cod business. Patrick VanCott, 62, of Sandwich, who runs the Snack Shack at Sandy Neck Beach in Barnstable, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in Plymouth District Court on Friday on charges of larceny over $1,200 by a single scheme and larceny from a building, Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz said in a statement. VanCott was held on $50,000 cash bail and ordered to stay away from all Plymouth school campuses and school storage facility. Prosecutors said VanCott allegedly stole food, cafeteria equipment, classroom equipment, and paper goods from the school district 'for a number of years.' Surveillance video from the school and also on the Sagamore Bridge showed VanCott's personal truck cross the bridge with one small refrigerator, that he allegedly stole from the school, secured on the rear truck bed, Cruz said. On May 30, Plymouth Public Schools officials contacted Plymouth Police after they received an anonymous letter alleging criminal activity at the Plymouth Community Intermediate School, Cruz said. The letter alleged that a person had been stealing commercial equipment and food products from the school, Cruz said. The alleged stolen property is owned by the Town of Plymouth and was paid for by the U.S. Federal Government. Plymouth Police immediately launched an investigation, which identified the suspect as VanCott, director of Plymouth Public Schools Food Services. As director, VanCott was the sole person with the authority to place orders for the cafeteria. VanCott also runs the Snack Shack at Sandy Neck Beach in Barnstable. 'VanCott's food orders consisted of premium Angus hamburgers, hot dogs, lobster meat, and other food products that were not served to students or school staff,' Cruz said Friday. On April 4, VanCott is alleged to have taken two under-the-counter commercial refrigerators. Surveillance video shows VanCott at the school on a Saturday loading one of the refrigerators onto a town truck and departing. VanCott then returned to the school in his personal pickup truck and loaded the second refrigerator into his own vehicle, Cruz said. A review of video taken from the Massachusetts State Police Fusion Center cameras located on the Sagamore Bridge showed VanCott's personal truck cross the bridge with the small refrigerator secured on the rear truck bed, Cruz said. As a result, VanCott was placed on administrative leave from Plymouth Public Schools. 'Earlier this week, the Plymouth Public Schools learned about serious allegations concerning a staff member's inappropriate use of District property for personal benefit,' Plymouth Public Schools Superintendent Christopher Campbell said in a statement. 'District leadership took swift and appropriate action under its internal policies, and the staff member is no longer performing any responsibilities within the school system,' Campbell said. 'This matter is currently under active police investigation and also involves internal personnel processes,' Campbell said. 'To protect the integrity of these proceedings, the District will not be issuing further comments at this time.' As part of their investigation, police conducted numerous interviews, reviewed surveillance video, and analyzed cafeteria financial documents. The investigation alleges that for years, once a week between Memorial Day and Labor Day, VanCott ordered cafeteria employees to slice two bags of deli turkey and one bag of ham, place them in a box inside the refrigerator with the initials 'PVC' written on them. Others reported to investigators they witnessed VanCott take condiments, snacks, paper goods, coffee, and other items from the kitchen. A list of items that were purchased by VanCott but not currently in the Plymouth Public Schools storage facility was compiled totaling over $8,300 in goods. Cruz said the items include but are not limited to: Refrigerated sandwich table - $1,700 2 Fry Pans - $96 Convection oven - $850 Undercounter freezer - $1,700 Microwave - $299 Bagel warmer - $294 Cuisinart coffee maker - $84 On Wednesday, Plymouth Police with the assistance of Barnstable Police executed a search warrant at the Snack Shack. They located a 28-foot industrial-sized refrigerator, bins, government-issued food, a coffee maker, blackboards, and other items, Cruz said. VanCott was taken into custody. 'We want to reassure our community that Plymouth Public Schools is committed to maintaining a safe, ethical, and professional environment,' said Campbell, the schools superintendent. The investigation is ongoing by Plymouth Police. VanCott is next scheduled to appear in court on July 21. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Easy Rider Diner in Fountain Square to close, pivot to bar service
After two and a half years in Fountain Square's Murphy Arts Center, Easy Rider Diner will fry up its last breakfast May 24 and then pivot to bar service only. The American Southwest-inspired diner, which the owners of the HI-FI Indy music venue next-door opened in October 2022 as a greasy spoon-style hangout, announced the closure May 16 on Facebook. The closure coincides with the construction of a new 1,200-square-foot indoor music venue, set to open in early 2026, to permanently house the temporary outdoor HI-FI Annex inside the Murphy Arts Center at 1043 Virginia Ave. Open from breakfast time until as late as midnight on weekends, Easy Rider has offered a blend of classic brunch fare, Southwest flavors and Americana comfort food. Pop art and Old West imagery lining the restaurant's pale pink walls lent Easy Rider an atmosphere like few others in Indy. Per Easy Rider's Facebook post, the HI-FI Annex's concession stand known as the Snack Shack will remain open, as will the Easy Rider bar as "part of the expanded HI-FI experience." "As we prepare for construction on our new venue in the Murphy Arts Center, we're shifting operations and have made the difficult—but necessary—decision to close the restaurant," the closing announcement read. "We're proud of what we built — from unforgettable meals to meaningful moments with our community," the post read. "Thank you to everyone who pulled up a chair and made it special." Contact dining reporter Bradley Hohulin at bhohulin@ You can follow him on Twitter/X @BradleyHohulin and stay up to date with Indy dining news by signing up for the Indylicious newsletter. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Fountain Square diner to close, pivot to bar service only
