A Genesee County man could face a terrorism charge after intentionally touching shopping carts at a Kroger north of Mt. Morris while claiming to be infected with Covid-19.
According to a press release from the Genesee County Prosecutor's office, 26-year old Jonathan Miracle was verbally aggressive towards store employees and grabbed shopping carts from customers.
County prosecutor David Leyton said when police arrived on the scene the man did appear to show symptoms of the virus.
“They got him into the police car and he started to lick the back windows and hack cough all over them and lick the partition between the front seat of the patrol car and the back seat.”
Leyton said his office will explore whether the individual has some kind of mental illness.
“Normally if this wasn’t a Covid-19 situation he’d get released. But in light of the situation I think we need to keep him in the jail for public safety purposes.”
If the man tests positive for the virus Leyton said he would consider adding domestic terrorism to the charges.
Miracle already faces charges including exposing people to a harmful substance, malicious destruction of property, and obstructing police.