A Florida man, Patrick Francis Mitchell, is facing serious legal charges after he allegedly urinated on over $10,000 worth of food at a Sam’s Club in Lady Lake, near Orlando.
Mitchell, 70, was arrested on June 4, and has been charged with criminal mischief resulting in damages over $1,000 and disorderly conduct, according to Lake County public records.
The incident reportedly occurred at approximately 9:49 a.m. on May 30, when Mitchell was allegedly seen urinating in one of the store’s aisles. Court documents reveal that a female customer witnessed the act and used her phone to capture photos of Mitchell, which she later showed to store employees.
CCTV footage from the store further confirmed the details of the incident, showing Mitchell walking up to two pallets in the aisle, facing the shelf, and engaging in what appeared to be urination, as described in the affidavit.
The footage also captured him walking around the snack section of the store, sitting on patio furniture for about 10 minutes, and eventually leaving the store after purchasing his items.
The two pallets in question contained approximately 188 cans of Vienna sausage and 345 cans of Spam, all of which were confirmed to be contaminated by urine, leading to their disposal. The total value of the damaged goods was estimated at $10,584.84.
Mitchell’s Sam’s Club membership helped store managers identify him, and his name and contact details were provided to the police. He pleaded not guilty to both charges during a court appearance on June 10. His next court date is set for June 30.
This bizarre incident has shocked the community, raising questions about both the legal implications of such actions and the responsibility of stores to manage public health and safety within their premises.