A California woman shopping at a local grocery store was arrested after licking $1,800 worth of items that had to be destroyed amid the coronavirus epidemic, according to a police report.
Jennifer Walker, 53, was seen at a Safeway in South Lake Tahoe on Tuesday picking up and licking various items and then putting them into her shopping cart. However, she had no intention of purchasing the merchandise worth $1,800, which could not be resold due to cross-contamination.
Police busted Walker in the store with her shopping cart filled with items. She was arrested for felony vandalism and was booked at the El Dorado County jail. Bail was set at $10,000.
Police say they are familiar with Walker, who does not have an arrest record but has had run-ins with law enforcement before, South Lake Tahoe Police Lt. Shannon Laney told NBC News. The nature of Walker's previous dealings with police is unclear.
Last month, a Pennsylvania woman was arrested after she ruined over $35,000 worth of grocery store goods when she intentionally coughed all over them.
The incident took place at Gerrity's Supermarket in Hanover Township, Pennsylvania. Store co-owner Joe Fasula said they were forced to dispose of the products and do a thorough cleaning of the store after the "very twisted prank."
"The manager informed me that a woman, who the police know to be a chronic problem in the community, came in to the store and proceeded to purposely cough on our fresh produce, and a small section of our bakery, meat case, and grocery," Fasula said in a post to Facebook. "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."
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