CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. – A Florida man was arrested this week after he tried to stay at a Walmart store overnight as part of a TikTok challenge, according to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office.
In a release, deputies said that they responded on Tuesday just after 11 p.m. to the store along South McCall Road in Englewood after a report of a burglary came in.
“The caller advised that there was a male in the store who was actively livestreaming to TikTok after the business had closed for the night,” the release reads.
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Upon arrival, deputies found the man — identified as 18-year-old Isaac Hurley — in the dog bed section, investigators said.
According to the CCSO, Hurley had entered the store around 10:15 p.m. and was trying to stay inside overnight.
“Deputies learned that his plan was to complete this TikTok challenge, hoping to earn money based on the number of views he could get while doing so,” the release continues. “While inside, Hurley also removed an iPhone charger from its packaging.”
As a result, Hurley was taken into custody on charges of burglary and petit theft. He was taken to jail, where he bonded out on $1,500.
In a statement, Sheriff Bill Prummell said the following:
“I’m not sure why people buy into these social media challenges when they are clearly encouraging you to violate the law. From the ‘kicking in the front door’ challenge, to the destruction of public property thing a couple years ago, to now something as silly as this, young people, especially, are putting themselves in bad situations and paying the price for it.
Why aren’t any of these challenges aimed at making the world better? Imagine mobilizing an entire generation to do positive things – the impact that could have. Instead, we are busy arresting people for making poor choices just to get views and likes. It’s a shame.”
Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell