Ex-grill man who said NY police falsely claimed he slipped glass into cop's Big Mac wins $437K

New York City has agreed to pay $437,000 to an ex-McDonald's worker who was criminally charged nearly a decade ago with slipping shards of glass into a police officer's Big Mac.

A Bronx jury acquitted Albert Garcia of assault charges in the headline-grabbing case following his January 2005 arrest.

The former grill man's lawsuit against the city faltered until the state's highest court unexpectedly accepted his appeal this year.

His lawyer argued the police officer manufactured the story and investigating detectives covered for him.

A lawyer for the now-retired officer says John Florio is as honest a client as he's represented and denied charges he fabricated the incident.

A Law Department spokesman says the settlement was in the best interest of all parties.

The Daily News first reported the settlement.