A Sam’s Club store in Lady Lake, Florida, was recently compelled to discard $10,500 worth of Spam and Vienna sausages. The incident occurred after a man, identified as 70-year-old retiree Patrick Francis Mitchell, was caught urinating on the canned goods in aisle 18. According to a police affidavit, the incident resulted in the spoilage of 188 bulk units of Vienna sausages and 345 units of canned Spam Classic.
Surveillance footage from the store showed Mitchell approaching the pallets of canned goods. He then positioned both hands in front of him, below the belt line, and stood there for several seconds. Marion County Detective Ronnie Williams described the behavior as consistent with urination.
Following the act, Mitchell was seen nonchalantly heading to the snack section of the store. He then spent approximately 10 minutes sitting on patio furniture before proceeding to the register. After paying for his items, he exited the store.
Mitchell was later arrested at his residence in the Village of Piedmont, a retirement community known as “Florida’s Friendliest Hometown,” where he resides with his wife.
The incident has led to Mitchell facing charges of disorderly conduct and criminal mischief. The latter is considered a felony as the alleged damage surpassed $1,000. Mitchell has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is currently free on a $3,000 bond.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety and hygiene standards in retail stores. It also highlights the need for increased surveillance and security measures to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.