Woman arrested in Wendy's chilli finger case

SAN JOSE, California (Reuters)

A woman who said she found a severed finger in a bowl of Wendy's chilli has been arrested, capping an investigation into a horrifying claim that made headlines and hurt sales at the No. 3 U.S. burger chain.

Anna Ayala, 39, was arrested on Thursday night at her home in Las Vegas and was being held at the Clark County Detention Centre there, police said.

Ayala said she bit down on the finger after spooning up a mouthful of chilli at a Wendy's restaurant in San Jose, California, on March 22. The charge drew intense publicity and tarnished the image of the Dublin, Ohio-based burger chain.

An analysis of the finger tissue by both local health agencies and outside experts disproved some statements made by Ayala about the chilli incident, police said in a statement.

She was charged with attempted grand theft over the finger but the origin of the finger was still unknown, said San Jose police department spokesman Nick Muyo.

The investigation prompted a second, unrelated, criminal charge against Ayala, who authorities said received $11,000 (5,700 pounds) for the sale of a mobile home in San Jose she did not own. Ayala is charged with grand theft in that case.

The arrest was welcomed by Wendy's International, which has said sales at its fast-food restaurants fell significantly in the San Jose area after the incident.

"We're thrilled that an arrest has been made," Tom Mueller, president of the company's North American business, said in a statement.

In the weeks since the incident, Wendy's has insisted that its own investigation found no evidence of any finger or hand accidents among its workers or suppliers. The chain initially offered a $50,000 reward for information about the origin of the finger but doubled the amount last week to $100,000.

Wendy's officials could not immediately be reached on Friday to say if anyone would receive the reward.

Images of the finger tip, released by the Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health, showed it in two pieces. Health officials said it was probably a woman's finger because it had part of a long, manicured nail.

Suspicion surrounding Ayala arose earlier this month after San Jose police served a search warrant related to the case in a private home in Las Vegas, where she lives. Media reports said Ayala's home was searched.

Publicity surrounding Ayala's history of suing large corporations has also raised questions about her. According to media reports, she has pursued legal claims against restaurant chain El Pollo Loco, General Motors and Goodyear Tire.

Last week Ayala apparently dropped her claim against Wendy's, and the San Jose attorney she hired following the incident confirmed he was no longer representing her.