With most everyone having been stuck in quarantine from the novel coronavirus for the last few weeks, a little cabin fever is to be expected. What is not to be expected, though, is licking a row of deodorants in Walmart or intentionally coughing on a Wegmans clerk, which is exactly what happened Monday and Tuesday. And the individuals responsible are being prosecuted for it.
Authorities in Warrenton, Missouri, are charging 26-year-old Cody Lee Pfister with a terroristic threat after a video of him defiantly declaring, “Who’s scared of coronavirus? Don’t touch your mouth,” and then proceeding to lick a row of deodorants surfaced on Twitter Monday.
A statement from the Warrenton police department on Facebook described the event as “A local resident who took a video of themselves licking the merchandise after making a “Corona Virus” statement in Walmart.” The statement went on to say that the individual had been taken into custody, and that the department took such complaints as this seriously, and thanked those who had reported the issue, enabling them to address it.
In addition, 50-year-old George Falcone of Freehold, New Jersey, is facing a similar charge. According to a report by WNYW-TV Tuesday, Falcone was charged with a terroristic threat after he intentionally coughed on a female Wegmans employee and then told her he had coronavirus. This happened after the employee had asked Falcone for more personal space.
Falcone is additionally being charged with harassment and obstruction of justice.
Apparently, even in a time of crisis, the limits of human stupidity can be hard to find.