A 19-year-old Joliet man surrendered to police on charges he sprayed disinfectant in a southwest suburban Walmart, causing nearly $10,000 in damages while wearing a sign reading, “Caution I have coronavirus.”
Tyler D. Wallace is charged with criminal trespass to property, disorderly conduct and retail theft, according to a statement from Joliet police. He turned himself into police on Thursday.
Police identified Wallace as a suspect in the Feb. 2 incident after sharing surveillance photos of two people allegedly walking through a Joliet Walmart spraying Lysol on products and produce.
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Police said they entered Walmart about 4:10 p.m. in the 1400 block of Route 59 and one of them put on a yellow surgical mask.
The masked suspect wore a handmade sign reading “Caution I have the Coronavirus” then sprayed Lysol on produce, clothing and health and beauty items, police said.
Walmart estimated the loss of produce to be over $7,300, and the cleanup costs totaled over $2,400, police said.
A Will County judge set his bail to $20,000, according to county records. He is due in court Friday afternoon.
A 17-year-old boy who was with Wallace was charged in juvenile court with criminal trespassing and disorderly conduct, police said.
