Preparedness
Social Media Stunt Gone Wrong: Man Faces Felony Charges
An unsettling incident unfolded at a Walmart in Mesa, Arizona, when a man allegedly filmed himself spraying bug killer on food items, leading to his arrest. The Mesa Police Department (MPD) reported that Charles Smith, 27, was taken into custody after a “reckless social media post” showed him engaging in this hazardous prank.
The incident reportedly occurred on a Thursday evening around 8:30 p.m. Smith entered the store with the apparent intention of creating prank videos for his social media accounts. According to police, he picked up a can of Hot Shot Ultra Bed Bug and Flea Killer from the store’s shelf without purchasing it.
Smith then allegedly proceeded to spray the pesticide on various food items, including fruits, vegetables, and rotisserie chickens.
“Smith filmed his face, the pesticide can, and the act of spraying. He later posted the video online,” the MPD stated.
Although the video has been removed from Smith’s TikTok account, it continues to circulate on other social media platforms. In a recent video, Smith is seen tying a bungee cord around store door handles, telling customers, “You guys are locked in there, forever.”
The audacity of the act left many bewildered, as one observer noted, “This guy sprayed toxic bug spray on produce at Walmart, and then was dumb enough to post it on the internet.”
Authorities from the MPD and Tempe Police Department quickly identified Smith as the suspect. He subsequently turned himself in voluntarily. During a police interview, Smith confessed to both the theft and the act of spraying the merchandise.
“This incident underscores the potential dangers of reckless actions disguised as social media pranks,” the MPD emphasized in their press release. They also commended their officers and detectives for their swift response in resolving the case and ensuring community safety.
Smith now faces serious legal consequences, having been charged with a felony for introducing poison, along with three misdemeanors: criminal damage, endangerment, and theft.
In response to the incident, a Walmart spokesperson informed AZ Family that all affected products were removed, and the impacted area of the store was thoroughly sanitized.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Joan
January 1, 2025 at 1:34 pm
Parents, social media and lack of harsh penalties are the cause of this sort of things. Children are brought up to think about themselves and know there are no consequences for their actions. It on video. Rush it through the system. No 2 or 3 years. Immediately. It is on film. The person is guilty. There is no alleged. He goes to jail and he still has to pay for everything he destroyed. If he cannot pay his immediate family is responsible. There has to be consequences.
Festus
January 1, 2025 at 2:03 pm
Force him to eat food sprayed with same insecticide on social media. Maybe the idiots would get the hint
william l bryant
January 1, 2025 at 6:24 pm
What the h-ll does gun control have to do with this incident!, charge him with attempted murder and send him to prison for 20 years
Eruadan
January 1, 2025 at 9:14 pm
Actually, this is just pure product tampering. If someone were to pick up some of the produce without realizing what had been done, there could be really serious consequences.
Anyone remember several years ago in the Pacific Northwest where some members of a cult who were unhappy with the way the citizens of the area felt about them went into a number of stores, and I think even a few buffets, and sprayed some type of chemical on the produce and or salad components? I think a couple of folks even died because of that.
This is no joke to the consumers or medical professionals who have no idea what they are faced with in the ER.
I won’t say more laws, because we have enough to deal with these behaviors already. They just need to be _enforced_. Strictly.
Eruadan
CPO Bill
January 2, 2025 at 2:41 pm
Feed him turds!