Florida man is arrested for spraying ‘bottle of coronavirus’ on doors of pet supply store

Florida man is arrested for ‘threatened use of a weapon of mass destruction’ after spraying ‘bottle of COVID-19’ on doors of pet supply store

  • David White, 50, charged after allegedly spraying liquid from bottle marked ‘COVID-19’ onto the doors of a Florida store
  • Cops were called to Pet Supermarket in Jacksonville for report of intentional coronavirus contamination 
  • Witnesses said White told workers and customers that were now infected with coronavirus 
  • Store staff later cleaned and sanitized area sprayed by White  
  • Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?

No laughing matter: David White, 50, has been charged with threatened use of a weapon of mass destruction after spraying what he claimed to be COVID-19 onto the doors of a Florida store 

A Florida man has been arrested for allegedly spraying an unknown liquid from a bottle he claimed contained the coronavirus onto the doors of a Jacksonville pet supply store, and telling workers they have now been exposed to the deadly disease. 

According to a press release from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, just before noon on Sunday officers responded to Pet Supermarket on Atlantic Boulevard for a report of an intentional coronavirus contamination incident. 

Witnesses at the store told cops the suspect, later identified as David White, 50, approached the business carrying a container labeled ‘COVID-19.’  

As he entered the store, White reportedly sprayed the unknown substance on and around the entrance doors. 

He also was heard telling employees and customers ‘that they were now infected with COVID-19,’ according to the release. 

Just before noon on Sunday, officers responded to Pet Supermarket on Atlantic Boulevard in Jacksonville for a report of an intentional coronavirus contamination incident

Just before noon on Sunday, officers responded to Pet Supermarket on Atlantic Boulevard in Jacksonville for a report of an intentional coronavirus contamination incident

As of Tuesday evening, there were 181,989 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, including 5,704 in Florida, and 3,699 deaths nationwide

As of Tuesday evening, there were 181,989 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, including 5,704 in Florida, and 3,699 deaths nationwide

Witnesses at the scene took photos of White’s Nissan Titan and provided them to law enforcement officials, according to Florida Times Union.

Following an investigation by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, White, who has multiple tattoos on his face and neck, was detained at 7pm and taken in for questioning. 

White was then arrested and charged with manufacture, possession, sale, delivery, display, use, or attempted or threatened use of a weapon of mass destruction or hoax weapon of mass destruction. 

He was released from jail after posting bonds totaling $15,000.

Sun-Sentinel reported that a woman who claims to know White posted on Facebook that the incident happened after the 50-year-old accompanied a woman battling cancer to the store and got into an argument with an employee who sprayed the doors with a disinfectant. 

In the wake of the coronavirus contamination scare, the pet supply store has cleaned and sanitized the area sprayed by White.  

As of Tuesday evening, there were 181,989 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, including 5,704 in Florida, and 3,699 deaths nationwide. 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk