An Arizona man, known for his social media pranks, was recently apprehended after allegedly contaminating groceries at a local Walmart with a bed bug killer. Charles Smith, 27, reportedly filmed himself spraying Hot Shot Ultra Bed Bug and Flea Killer on various perishable items at a Walmart in Mesa, Arizona, around 8:30 p.m. on December 19.
Smith, who goes by the username WolfieKahletti on TikTok, was seen in the now-deleted video wearing a black hoodie and pink bandana, applying the pesticide on bananas, acorn squash, potatoes, lemons, green apples, and Roma tomatoes. The store is located in a neighborhood southeast of Phoenix.
According to police, Smith, who identifies as an online “troll,” intentionally visited the store to film pranks for his TikTok channel, which boasts over 300,000 followers. Court documents reveal that Smith allegedly told police he earns between $6,000 and $10,000 per month from his prank videos.
Local Walmart shopper Xavier Griego expressed his concern about the incident, stating, “I think social media has got people doing crazy things out here. It’s unfortunate that somebody would mess up their whole life, potentially, for something on social media for views.”
Smith surrendered to the police voluntarily on December 21. He now faces charges of introducing poison, a felony, and three misdemeanors, including criminal damage, endangerment, and theft.
A Walmart spokesperson informed AZ Family that the store’s employees had removed the directly impacted products and cleaned the affected areas. It remains unclear whether any customers were harmed by consuming the contaminated items.
The Mesa Police Department issued a statement highlighting the potential dangers of reckless actions disguised as social media pranks. Other videos posted by Smith include him mixing bacon and eggs into a stranger’s laundry at a laundromat and locking people inside a different grocery store.
According to the manufacturer’s website, the spray Smith used is harmful if swallowed and can cause allergic reactions in some individuals if there is prolonged or frequently repeated skin contact. Individuals convicted of tampering with consumer products can face prison sentences ranging from 5 to 20 years.
In a similar case in 2022, an Arizona man was sentenced to 10 years of probation after being convicted of adding harmful chemicals to food at several retail stores in the Phoenix area. The man, David Lohr, was ordered to pay restitution to a grocery chain for $390.42 and participate in a mental health evaluation and any additional recommended treatment.