(Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Taber man arrested after licking food in store as part of “COVID-19 prank”

Apr 8, 2020 | 6:45 AM

TABER, AB – The Taber Police Service (TPS) says a local 20-year-old man was attempting to take part in a Tik Tok trend known as the “COVID Challenge”.

They received a complaint on Thursday, April 2 that four people had entered a local food establishment and one member of the group tampered with a product by licking it.

A witness reported it to store management.

“The business took all precautions to ensure that the packaged goods were removed from the shelves and the entire area sanitized in keeping with Covid-19 cleaning protocols,” reads a statement from TPS.

The four people left the business, but a license plate number was obtained.

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Police identified the four suspects, including the one person who licked the item.

The 20-year-old has been charged with one count of mischief under $5,000.

He was released on an undertaking to appear in Taber Provincial Court on July 7.

According to TPS, the motive was to create a video on the social media platform Tik Tok.

“Taber Police consider this type of activity a serious breach of good citizenship and conduct that is required during this time of crisis. Reliable and clean food supply is one of our greatest needs at this time, to waste cleaning supplies and food from our shelves during this pandemic is unacceptable.”

Chief Graham Abela says they will investigate and will lay charges to the fullest extent of the law “to help curb this type of prank.”

LNN asked Abela about the suspect’s name. Abela was concerned about people taking vigilante action against the accused, so his name will not be released.