By JAMES BELLHays Post
A Kansas man was arrested Thursday in Hays after allegedly coughing on a store clerk while making statements about the coronavirus.
At 12:43 p.m., the Hays Police Department responded to a complaint of a disorderly customer at Walmart, 4301 Vine.
Responding officers found the incident began after a clerk informed the suspect there was a limit on the amount of hamburger he could purchase, according to HPD Chief Don Schiebler.
"The customer became upset and began yelling profanities and began knocking stuff over and breaking things inside the store," Schiebler said.
He then allegedly began coughing hysterically in the direction of a clerk while making comments about the coronavirus.
Michael Craig Cochrane, 50, Rush County, was arrested on suspicion of criminal threat, disorderly conduct and criminal damage to property.
He was being held in the Ellis County jail and is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, Scheibler said.
"The Hays Police Department understands this is a trying time for the community," he said. "But we have to work together. We have to remain patient with each other as we try to work through this situation.
"We appreciate the community's continued cooperation and support, but we want to be clear we will not be going to tolerate this kind of behavior," Scheibler added.