MIDDLETOWN, PA — A Bucks County man is facing charges after authorities say he intentionally coughed on a cashier at a local grocery store, then claimed he had tested positive for the coronavirus.
James Edelstein, 75, of East Wellington Road in Lower Makefield Township, is charged with terroristic threats, simple assault, disorderly conduct and harassment in connection with the April 28 incident at Redner’s Market in Middletown Township.
According to the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office, Edelstein had complained that another worker at the store didn’t put his groceries in his cart and “wanted to cause a scene.”
According to the criminal complaint filed in the case, Edelstein was standing about three feet from the cashier when he removed his face mask and “coughed loudly” in her direction. He then said, “I just tested positive for COVID. Hope I do not spread my germs,” according to the complaint.
Before that, he had been waiting on a bench near the victim’s cash register, demanding to speak to a manager after complaining that another employee didn’t put his bags in his cart.
“I am proud of the way 99 percent of our citizens have handled themselves during this pandemic,” said Bucks County District Attorney Matthew Weintraub. “The vast majority of us have adapted our behavior, followed the rules and treated each other with respect. But whenever anyone seeks to weaponize this virus in order to terrorize another person just trying to do their job, we will prosecute him.
“We will protect our people serving us on the front lines by showing zero tolerance for criminal behavior like this.”
According to the complaint, Edelstein told a Middletown Township Police officer that he “wanted to cause a scene” to show his anger.
“These kids had an education about an unhappy customer,” he said, according to the complaint. “I am happy I caused a disturbance and disrupted the flow of things.”
Edelstein was not physically arrested and instead was charged via a summons, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
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