Man Robbed of $225, Forced to Drink Toxic Drain Cleaner

Three robbers stole $225 from a man at a downtown bus terminal, then forced him to drink a toxic liquid drain cleaner at gunpoint until he began to “foam at the mouth,” police said Saturday.

Steven Green, 32, of Los Angeles, ran gagging and choking to a nearby fire station after the holdup at the station in the Skid Row area late Friday night.

He was treated by paramedics and rushed to County-USC Medical Center, where doctors performed exploratory surgery and found that damage to his esophagus and stomach was minimal, hospital spokesman Tony Tripi said. Green was listed in fair condition.

Accosted by Trio

Green was accosted by two men and a woman shortly before midnight as he walked out of a drug store in the Greyhound terminal, Lt. Jim Darr said.

One of the robbers allegedly showed him a gun, demanded his money and warned: “If you move, you die.”

Another suspect took the money from Green’s right front pocket, Darr said, and one of them then told him: “We’ve got something else for you.”

Drink or Be Shot

The suspects took a small can of Drano from a paper bag and told Green: “If you don’t drink, we’re going to shoot you,” police said.

Green drank about half the can before he began to gag and choke and the robbers ran away.

“This toxic substance made him vomit and foam at the mouth,” Darr said. “He knew he needed medical treatment, so he ran to a fire station two blocks down the street.”

Emergency room attendant Chuck Demke said the lye-based liquid “can burn the esophagus, causing all sorts of damage,” including scars and blisters that could have lasting effects.

Police said they had no idea who the suspects were and had no good descriptions, since there apparently were no witnesses to the incident.