In the midst of the escalating COVID-19 pandemic that’s seeing stores emptied of food, cleaning supplies and paper products across the country, a Pennsylvania woman decided to play a “twisted prank” that forced a local grocery store to throw away $35,000 worth of food and landed her in jail.
On Wednesday (Mar. 25), 35-year-old Margaret Cirko, “who police know to be a chronic problem in the community,” according to a social media post, walked into a Hanover Township Gerrity’s and purposely coughed on their fresh produce and bakery, meat case, and grocery section.
The supermarket chain’s co-owner, Joe Fasula, took to Facebook after learning about the incident.
“Today was a very challenging day…While there is little doubt this woman was doing it as a very twisted prank…we had no choice but to throw out all product she came into contact with.”
https://www.facebook.com/105505669519115/posts/3009531602449826/?d=n
The grocery store is working with authorities to ensure everything is cleaned and sanitized, and while they don’t believe that the woman is infected with COVID-19, the case has been escalated to the District Attorney’s Office and a test will be administered, authorities said.
Cirko was arrested Thursday on charges including threatening to use a weapon of mass destruction, making terroristic threats and disorderly conduct.
CHARGED – Margaret Cirko of Hanover Twp is facing several charges, including 4 felonies, after allegedly coughing and spitting on produce throughout Gerrity's causing the grocery store to throw out $35k+ of inventory. She was arraigned inside a police vehicle by DJ Halesey @WNEP pic.twitter.com/o7dwdrU4Am
— Chelsea Strub (@chelseastrub) March 26, 2020
This is just the latest incident of people escalating fears amidst an unprecedented response to a global pandemic.
Earlier this week, Cody Lee Pfister of Missouri was arrested charged with making a terrorist threat after posting a video of himself licking items at a Walmart to mock everyone’s growing concerns.
