Paris, Tenn.–A Paris man was arrested Thursday after he coughed on employees at a local business, saying he had the Coronavirus and threatening management.
Tyrin McCauley, age 24, of 345 Harrison St., Paris, was charged by Paris Police with terrorism hoax, reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct and taken to the county jail.
Paris Police were called to Wal-Mart at 10:13 a.m. on a call that the subject had coughed on people, yelling he had the Coronavirus and that management had escorted him out of the store where he was now threatening management.
When Lt. Michael Ramos arrived, one of the managers told him McCauley had begun yelling and cursing him and saying he needed food for his child as managers escorted him out of the store. When another manager intervened to try to calm McCauley down, McCauley said he was going to assault the other manager.
The store’s general manager told Ramos he observed McCauley cough directly on an employee. Other witnesses said they observed him coughing loudly and saying he had the Coronavirus.
Ramos said he called Assistant District Attorney Rebecca Griffey who advised him to charge McCauley with terrorism hoax, reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct.