Coronavirus: Police looking to ID person who threatened to spread illness

UPDATE:

The person claiming to be the writer of the post responded on his Facebook page that his post was a joke and he was not in the state of Ohio.

News Center 7 is working to learn more about the poster and what the police are doing in response.

INITIAL:

Police are working to identifying a person who, via a Facebook post, claims he has been spreading his illness in stores in Piqua and Troy, and is threatening a store in Greenville.

WHIO-TV is not identifying the person by name because he has not been charged with a crime.

>> Coronavirus: What you need to know

This news organization was made aware of the post, which is dated March 13, 2020, and notified the Piqua Police Department.

The person claiming to be the writer of the post said, “I’ve been coughing with a fever, but I think it’s best to treat myself like a vaccine. I’ve been going to grocery stores and wiping my dirty tissues on canned foods, cleaning products and toilet paper.

“If you get sick, then you will be immune to it. God chose me to do this, and I sure hope I am doing it right. I love you guys, stop panicking. After it hits, all will be fine.”

In a follow-up post, he said, “so far I have done the Piqua Kroger, Piqua Walmart, Troy Kroger. I am planning to do Greenville Walmart and Kroger next.”

According to the Ohio Revised Code, “a person causing public alarm by initiating or circulating a report or warning of an alleged "other catastrophe" or committing any offense "with reckless disregard of the likelihood that its commission will cause serious public inconvenience or alarm," would be charged with inducing panic.

Deputy Chief Jason Preston said, “We have not received any reports of anyone actually seen doing this and are actively looking into identifying this person.”

If you have further information on who this person may be, you are asked to contact the police department at (937) 778-2027 or (937) 615-TIPS (8477).