A prankster was recently arrested and charged after allegedly spraying bug killer on food in an Arizona Walmart, police say.
Charles Smith, who is 27 years old, is facing serious legal charges. He has been accused of poisoning at a felony level and causing criminal damage at a misdemeanor level. On top of these charges, he is also facing misdemeanor charges of endangerment and theft. The Mesa Police Department has officially announced his arrest, according to a statement given to Fox News Digital.
The incident began on Dec. 19 at around 8:30 p.m., police said, when the suspect entered a Mesa Walmart “intending to film pranks for social media.” He then grabbed a can of bug killer “without paying for it,” according to the police’s statement.
According to the authorities, Smith aimed the spray at both produce and prepared food items, such as rotisserie chickens.
The incident took place at a Walmart in Mesa, Arizona. (Google Maps)
“Thanks to the tireless work of our officers and detectives, an arrest occurred less than 24 hours after police were notified of the incident,” the police department continued. “We also extend our gratitude to the Tempe Police Department for their valuable contributions and collaboration in quickly solving this case.”
Authorities added that the incident exemplifies “the potential dangers of reckless actions disguised as social media pranks.”
On Sunday, Walmart told Fox News Digital that customer safety “is always a top priority,” and confirmed that all tainted products were removed from shelves.
The Mesa Police Department confirmed Smith’s arrest in a statement to Fox News Digital. (Google Maps)
“We have removed all directly impacted product and have cleaned and sanitized the affected area of the store,” the company continued. “We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused our customers as we work to resolve this issue. We will continue to work closely with law enforcement during their investigation.”
