An Arizona man was arrested Saturday after allegedly filming himself spraying bug killer on food items inside a Walmart, police said.
Charles Smith, 27, was arrested in connection with a “reckless social media post involving the spraying of pesticides on produce and other food items at a Mesa Walmart,” the Mesa Police Department (MPD) said in a press release. The alleged incident occurred on Thursday around 8:30 p.m., police said.
Smith allegedly entered the store with the intention to film prank videos for his social media and grabbed a can of Hot Shot Ultra Bed Bug and Flea Killer from the store’s shelf without paying for it, according to police.
The 27-year-old then allegedly sprayed the pesticide on fruit, vegetables and rotisserie chickens that were available for purchase inside the store.
“Smith filmed his face, the pesticide can, and the act of spraying. He later posted the video online,” the MPD said. (RELATED: Influencer Who Allegedly Uploaded Video Of Herself Stealing From Target Shoplifted From Same Location, Police Say).
The video has since been deleted from his TikTok account but continues to circulate on social media. His most recent video shows him tying a bungee cord around the door handles of a store, telling customers inside “You guys are locked in there, forever.”
Okay this is insane. This guy sprayed toxic bug spray on produce at Walmart, and then was dumb enough to post it on the internet.
LOCK HIM UP! cr: @ImMeme0 pic.twitter.com/z5Er45SZi2
— David J Harris Jr (@DavidJHarrisJr) December 21, 2024
Officials with the MPD and Tempe Police Department were able to identify Smith as the suspect and contacted him. He later voluntarily turned himself in. During a police interview, Smith admitted to theft and spraying the merchandise, according to police.
“This incident underscores the potential dangers of reckless actions disguised as social media pranks,” the MPD said in the press release. “The Mesa Police Department is proud of the swift and diligent work of our officers and detectives in resolving this case and protecting the community.”
Smith was booked and charged with a felony charge of introducing poison, and three misdemeanors including criminal damage, endangerment and theft, police said.
A Walmart spokesperson told AZ Family that all the impacted products were removed and the affected area of the store was sanitized following the incident.
This article was originally published at dailycaller.com
