CRAWFORD COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a man for an alleged terror threat in connection with the coronavirus pandemic.
On Tuesday, police were dispatched to Dollar Tree Store in Cuba, Mo., for the report of a man causing a disturbance, according to a media release.
An employee of the business reported the incident and told officers there had been a man inside of the store who had been purposely coughing toward other customers in the business.
The employee also stated that the same man had written COVID on the inside of a cooler door with his fingers after breathing on it. It was also alleged the man had placed his hands down his pants and then rubbed a cooler door handle. As a result of his actions, the store was closed and sanitized. Police arrested John Swaller, 33, of Cuba, on requested charge of making a terrorist threat and he was being held on $25,000 bail in the Crawford County jail.
Cuba police Chief Doug Shelton said investigators don't know if Swaller has the coronavirus, but officers used protective gear while taking him to jail.