They’re calling it a ‘twisted prank’, but the result could be prison time for the prankster. A woman apparently coughed intentionally on a large quantity of food in a Pennsylvania supermarket. No motive for the act has been suggested. But she’s in big trouble with the authorities…
The empty Produce display at Gerrity’s Supermarket in Hanover, PA:
The store had to dispose of an estimated $35,000 worth of food
after a woman coughed on it earlier this week…
It’s like making ‘bomb’ jokes on an airliner, or shouting ‘fire’ in a crowded theatre. COVID-19 pranks have the same effect, sparking fear and sometimes panic in those nearby. And the authorities take them very seriously.
What she did
Co-owner of Gerrity Supermarkets in Pennsylvania, Joe Fasula told the story in an exceptionally long and detailed Facebook post from which we draw the following key excerpt:
“At 2:20 PM today, I got a call from our Hanover Township store. The manager informed me that a woman, who the police know to be a chronic problem in the community, came into the store and proceeded to purposely cough on our fresh produce, and a small section of our bakery, meat case, and grocery.
“While there is little doubt this woman was doing it as a very twisted prank, we will not take any chances with the health and well-being of our customers. We had no choice but to throw out all of the products she came in contact with. Working closely with the Hanover Township health inspector, we identified every area that she was in, we disposed of the product and thoroughly cleaned and disinfected everything.”
What it cost
The ‘prank’ resulted in the loss of (US)$35,000 worth of food which had to be thrown out, and hours of staff time cleaning and disinfecting the affected displays and cooler. As if things weren’t tough enough for supermarket staff during the COVID-19 pandemic!
What the police did
“Our incredible team did the best they could to get the woman out of the store as fast as possible. The police were contacted immediately and the case has been escalated to the District Attorney’s Office. They have assured me that they will be aggressively pursuing numerous charges. In addition, while we do not believe the woman is truly infected, they will make every effort to see that she is tested,” Fasula posted.
It’s a crime to waste food like this
It’s criminal to waste food like this, especially during a time in which people are worried about the food supply, and even fear going out to the store to get what they need.
“I am […] absolutely sick to my stomach about the loss of food. While it is always a shame when food is wasted, in these times when so many people are worried about the security of our food supply, it is even more disturbing,” Fasula lamented.
Spreading COVID-19 now ‘terrorism’
The U.S. Justice department announced on Wednesday that individuals who intentionally spread COVID-19 may be charged with terrorism. The virus has been ruled a ‘biological agent’, which makes spreading it a federal offense.
A few days ago, a man was caught coughing intentionally on a grocery store employee in New Jersey. He was charged with making ‘terroristic threats’.
In St. Louis, MO, a man was charged with making terroristic threats after he was videoed in a Walmart licking sticks of deodorant. According to the St. Louis Post Dispatch, the man said, in the video, “Who’s scared of coronavirus?” His lawyer is calling the incident, “immature […] tasteless and impulsive” but argues the technicality that the event took place before the World Health Organization declared the virus a pandemic and, so, “should not work retroactively and convert [the] act into a criminal terrorist threat.” I guess it’s the lawyer’s job to give his client the best possiblee defense – but, really…
My take
You have to be either exceptionally loony or exceptionally nasty to do what these people have done, especially at a time like this. Terrorism charges aside, I was glad to hear, from a CTV News Story, that the woman who coughed all over Gerrity’s was committed for observation at a psychiatric facility. I agree wholeheartedly with Joe Fasula about the waste of all that food, and I am concerned for him if, as he says in his Facebook post, his insurance rates go up next year because of the incident.
It’s a crazy time, folks! We don’t need idiotic stunts on top of all the clear and present danger…
~ Maggie J.