happymeal

Times are getting harder and people are getting more innovative with their hustling ways. FYI: It may be a good idea to double check your children’s Happy Meal toys if you’ve visited a McDonald’s in Pittsburgh recently. You may be very surprised at what you find.

The Los Angeles Times reports that Shantia Dennis, a 26-year-old McDonald’s employee, was arrested Wednesday (Jan. 29) after undercover law enforcement officials busted her using Happy Meal boxes to sell heroin.

Dennis was arraigned on Thursday and charged with criminal use of a cellphone, delivery of heroin, possession with intent to deliver heroin and possession of heroin and marijuana.

Mike Manko, communications director for the Allegheny County district attorney’s office, said in a statement that customers would call Dennis to let her know they were coming ahead of time and then ordered a toy.

No other employees have been charged in relation to this incident but police did unveil something interesting about the store’s owner, Iftikhar Malik. Although he is believed to be unaware of the drug sales, the Associated Press reports that Malik also owns another McDonald’s location in Murrysville, Pa., where an employee was charged with dealing heroin earlier this year.

-Erika Benton-Martin (@leftcoast_rika)