Log in

SOCIAL MEDIA

Grand jury indicts man for dousing bug spray on food at Mesa store

Posted 1/22/25

A 27-year-old man has been indicted for spraying chemicals on vegetables and chicken at a Mesa store, authorities said.

Charles Smith recorded what he had done and posted it on social media, …

You must be a member to read this story.

Join our family of readers for as little as $5 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.


Already have an account? Log in to continue.

Current print subscribers can create a free account by clicking here

Otherwise, follow the link below to join.

To Our Valued Readers –

Visitors to our website will be limited to five stories per month unless they opt to subscribe. The five stories do not include our exclusive content written by our journalists.

For $6.99, less than 20 cents a day, digital subscribers will receive unlimited access to YourValley.net, including exclusive content from our newsroom and access to our Daily Independent e-edition.

Our commitment to balanced, fair reporting and local coverage provides insight and perspective not found anywhere else.

Your financial commitment will help to preserve the kind of honest journalism produced by our reporters and editors. We trust you agree that independent journalism is an essential component of our democracy. Please click here to subscribe.

Sincerely,
Charlene Bisson, Publisher, Independent Newsmedia

Please log in to continue

Log in
I am anchor
SOCIAL MEDIA

Grand jury indicts man for dousing bug spray on food at Mesa store

Posted

A 27-year-old man has been indicted for spraying chemicals on vegetables and chicken at a Mesa store, authorities said.

Charles Smith recorded what he had done and posted it on social media, according to a release this week from the Maricopa County Attorney's Office.

The meat and produce, valued at $900,  had to be discarded, the release stated.

The incident occurred about 8:30 p.m. Dec. 19 in the Walmart at 1955 S. Stapley Drive.

Smith entered the store intending to film pranks for social media but instead selected a can of Hot Shot Ultra Bed Bug and Flea Killer from the shelf without paying for it, police said.

“He then sprayed the pesticide on various produce items, including vegetables, fruit and rotisserie chickens that were available for purchase. Smith filmed his face, the pesticide can and the act of spraying. He later posted the video online,” an earlier release stated.

“Through investigative means, and with assistance from the Tempe Police Department, detectives were able to identify Smith as the suspect."

Mesa police contacted Smith, and he turned himself in voluntarily.

Smith was indicted on  one count of burglary, two counts of adding poison or other harmful substance to water, food, drink or medicine, one count of endangerment and one count of criminal damage, according to MCAO.

We’d like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.

 

Share with others