PA Woman’s ‘Intentional’ Supermarket Cough Causes Destruction Of $35K In Essential Food Items

HANOVER TOWNSHIP, PA. (THECOUNT) — Joe Fasula, co-owner of Gerrity’s Supermarket in Pennsylvania, says he was forced to destroy at least $35,000 worth of food, which had to be trashed Wednesday afternoon, after he says a woman intentionally coughed on it.

The store staff spent the rest of the day along with the Hanover Township health inspector, cleaning the supermarket, disinfecting displays and throwing away product in every section she came in contact.

Via WDTN:

“Today was a very challenging day,” Joe Fasula, of Gerrity’s Supermarket, wrote. “At 2:20 p.m. today, I got a call from our Hanover Township store. The manager informed that a woman, who the police know to be a chronic problem in the community, came in to (sic) the store and proceeded to purposely cough on our fresh produce, and a small section of our bakery, meat case and grocery.”

Fasula said the total damage done in the “twisted prank” is estimated to be well over $35,000, and he expects his insurance rates to rise because of it.

“I’m also absolutely sick to my stomach about the loss of food.” Fasula wrote. “While it is always a shame when food is wasted, in these times when so many people are worried about the security of our food supply, it is even more disturbing.”

Fasula said the Gerrity’s staff “did the best they could to get the woman out of the store as fast as possible.”

The woman was later taken into custody.

According to Fasula, police were called and the case was escalated to the district attorney’s office, “They have assured me that they will be aggressively pursuing numerous charges,” he wrote.

It’s unknown if the suspect is infected with novel coronavirus.

DEVELOPING::

Geo quick facts: Hanover is a borough in York County, Pennsylvania, 19 miles southwest of York and 54 miles north-northwest of Baltimore, Maryland and is 5 miles north of the Mason-Dixon line. The town is situated in a productive agricultural region. The population was 15,289 at the 2010 census – Wikipedia.