The TikToker accused of spraying bug killer on food at a Mesa Walmart faces felony and misdemeanor charges in Maricopa County Superior Court, including poisoning food, burglary, endangerment and criminal damage.
Charles Smith, 27, posted a video on social media on Dec. 19 showing himself spraying bug killer on fruits, vegetables and rotisserie chicken at the Walmart located at Stapley and Baseline roads in Mesa, according to court records.
Smith was charged on Dec. 31 with two counts of adding poison to food, one count of burglary, one count of endangerment and one count of criminal damage.
After leaving the store for 10 minutes, Smith returned to place the items he sprayed into a shopping cart to prevent others from purchasing them, according to court records. Investigators, however, could not confirm whether he collected all the items. Walmart removed the rest of the products from its shelves, resulting in more than $900 in damages, the records said.
Mesa police identified Smith through his video and contacted him. He agreed to turn himself in, according to the court records.
Police said Smith admitted he knew people could get sick if they ate the food and described the act as a "troll" prank for social media. He told investigators he earns between $6,000 and $10,000 a month by posting such videos, court records said.
Smith posted bail earlier this month and was scheduled for trial in May.