Woman who ‘violently coughed’ on grocery store food while shouting ‘I have the virus’ is charged with TERRORISM
A WOMAN who allegedly coughed all over food in a supermarket whilst shouting: “I have the virus” has been charged with terrorism.
Margaret Cirko, 35, from Pennsylvania was caught spitting and spluttering over food at Gerrity’s Supermarket before she attempted to steal a case of beer.
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Her sick behaviour meant that over $35,000 worth of produce had to be destroyed.
She was charged with felony counts of terrorist threats, threats to use a “biological agent” and criminal mischief.
Local news channel WNEP reported that employees had to santise everything that the woman had deliberately coughed on.
She even made a bizarre appearance in front of a judge while she sat in a car because of Covid-19 concerns.
As Margaret Cirko curled up on a police car seat, District Judge Joseph Halesey addressed her through an open window while reporters gathered around.
TWISTED PRANK
He told her: “Your bail is $50,000 straight. This is a copy of your criminal complaint, arrest warrant affidavit.”
Co-owner of Gerrity’s Supermarkets, Joe Fasula, believes the woman did this as a “very twisted prank” but said the store had no choice but to throw out all the food she came into contact with.
Fasula said employees of the store attempted to stop her while she continued to cough and spit on produce and meat, but she kept yelling, “I have the virus. You’re all going to get sick.”
It is believed she is not a carrier of the virus.
“My first thought went to the fact that we’re just going to have to throw out all this food,” said Mr Fasula.
“It’s so hard to get right now. I mean, produce hasn’t been too bad, but the price of produce is going up quite a bit. And when it comes to all the different grocery items, it’s so hard. So right now it’s the worst time in the world to be throwing food away.”
Gerrity’s said the produce lost included bakery items and meats.
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“Our crew came in around 4 o’clock this morning. They have all worked so hard and they’ve been here ever since.
“They’re almost done now. Everything was totally clean, totally disinfected. Everything’s very safe,” Fasula told the station.
Less than 24 hours later, the shelves have been restocked inside Gerrity’s, and the co-owner said that’s thanks to support from his suppliers of this store.
But he’s also received a lot of support from the community and around the world.
