Beyond Meat's chief operating officer has been arrested for allegedly biting a man's nose during a confrontation.
The vegan food giant has revealed in a statement that Doug Ramsey, 53, was suspended effective immediately after allegedly getting involved altercation outside a football game in Arkansas on Saturday (September 17), according to KNWA.
The COO is accused of being implicated in a violent road-rage confrontation with another man after his car allegedly made contact with Ramsey's in a parking garage after the Arkansas Razorbacks v. Missouri State Bears game in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
According to a preliminary police report seen by the outlet, Ramsey allegedly struck the motorist and then bit his nose so hard that it tore his flesh.
In addition to this, the police report also states that Ramsey allegedly hit the victim through the rear window of the man's Subaru and then dragged him closer before he continued to physically engage him.
"Mr. Ramsey also bit the owner’s nose, ripping the flesh on the tip of the nose," the officer wrote, per NBC News. "The owner and the witness also heard Mr. Ramsey threaten to kill the owner of the Subaru."
Reportedly, witnesses at the scene separated the two men, and then the plant-based company boss was arrested.
Following his arrest and suspension from the company, Ramsey has been charged with one count of third-degree battery and one count of terroristic threatening, with a total bond of $11,085.
According to inmate information posted by the Washington County Sheriff's Office, he was released on Sunday (September 18) after someone posted his bail. However, he has a court appearance scheduled for October 19.
Per Insider, the plant-based meat company shared in a statement that Ramsey's operations activities will be replaced and overseen on an interim basis by Jonathan Nelson, the company's senior vice president of manufacturing operations.
Beyond Meat has become a global leader in the vegan food market, producing products such as burgers and sausages out of plant-based ingredients. It is part of a surge of such companies that have appeared around the world offering alternatives to meat. The products are seen as better for the environment and the killing of animals.
Ramsey was announced as Beyond Meat's new chief operating officer in early December. Prior to his position at the company, he had spent nearly 30 years at Tyson Foods, overseeing its poultry and McDonald’s businesses.
At the time of his appointment to the company, Ramsay said, per BBC News: "I am proud to join in its mission to produce delicious products that are healthier for our customers and more sustainable for our planet."
