Donald Albert Foster, III, 49, of Leesville was arrested Wednesday on charges that he poured chlorine bleach into the water supply tank, according to the Lexington County Sheriff's Department.
/ LCSD
LEXINGTON COUNTY, SC (WACH) - A suspended employee of a West Columbia medical clinic was arrested Wednesday after employees at the clinic found that the water supply for dialysis machines operated at the facility had been contaminated with chlorine bleach last month.
Donald Albert Foster, III, 49, of Leesville was arrested Wednesday on charges that he poured chlorine bleach into the water supply tank, according to the Lexington County Sheriff's Department.
Authorities say the employees discovered the water had been contaminated before the water was supplied to dialysis machines used for patients at the clinic.
Foster is charged with attempted murder and second-degree burglary.
Sheriff James R. Metts says Foster was suspeded without pay from his employement as a patient care technician and equipment technician at the clinic on July 2. He was directed not to enter the clinic or trespass on the property. Around 9 p.m. on July 7, Foster unlawfully entered the clinic and knowingly contaminated the water.
Foster knew from training that he received at the clinic that the contaminated water would kill any patients whose bodies received the contaminated water while they underwent dialysis treatment at the clinic, Metts said.
Metts says a regular test of the water in the holding tank performed on July 9 showed levels of chorine in the water were high enough to kill any patients whose bodies received the water during dialysis treatment at the clinic.
Foster is detained at the Lexington County Detention Center awaiting a bond hearing. He is expected to appear in court Thursday morning.
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