Man jailed for alleged mercury in food

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ALBANY, N.Y., March 31 (UPI) -- A retired pharmacist is being held without bail at Albany (N.Y.) County jail for allegedly dropping mercury in cafeteria food at a hospital, police said.

Fifty-nine-year-old Martin Kimber, of Ruby, N.Y., was arrested Thursday and was being held without bail. He has been ordered to undergo a mental health exam, court papers said.

An Albany Medical Center employee found a ball of mercury on her food tray in the hospital's Choices Cafe March 2. The cafeteria was closed and hospital officials said they found traces of liquid mercury in the salad bar, chicken wing bar and ice cream cooler, court documents said.

The hospital released a photo this week of a gray-haired suspect with a moustache leaving the cafeteria, the Albany (N.Y.) Times Union reported.

Kimber was recognized and the Ulster County District Attorney's Office was contacted, a search warrant was obtained and and police found liquid mercury at Kimber's home, Albany Police spokesman Steve Smith said.

The mercury exposure did not pose a health risk and no follow-up treatment was required for anyone who may have come in contact with the metallic element, experts said.