Police tracked down and arrested Cori E. Ward, 30, in Jacksonville yesterday.
The mom was charged with tampering with a consumer product without regard for possible death or bodily injury after she recorded her underaged daughter lick a tongue depressor before putting it back in the canister at undisclosed doctor's office in Jacksonville.
Ward was caught due to posting the video on social media app snapchat for her friends. The video shows the daughter point to a sign in an exam room which urges patients not to touch medical supplies. She then proceeds to take out a tongue depressor, run it across her tongue before replacing it back into the canister. The caption added to the video says "Don't Tell Me How to Live My Life!"
The video was then shared on facebook by another user, where it went viral. Within 24 hours, police were at Ward's door with an arrest warrant. According to Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, the single mother is in custody without bond barring a court appearance today.
While the girl is not a child, she is still underage, and the mother is clearly seen filming, encouraging and touching the medical supplies herself. The felony could land a maximum of 30 years in prison, but it's likely courts with be lenient due to her status as a single working mother of a juvenile.
The arrest is more likely to send a message against what seems to have become an internet trend of recording licking public items and putting them back. The charges come at the heels of another viral video which shows and underage suspect in a Texas Walmart opening a tub of ice cream and licking the product before replacing the lid and returning it to the shelf.
There was likewise a third incident including aspiring rapper Lenise Lloyd Martin, 36, filmed himself attempting to copy that stunt at a store in Belle Rose, Louisiana, on Saturday. He admitted that he bought the ice cream, but was still arrested and charged with tampering.
To me, I'm shocked that this is even a thing. I mean, wtf? I don't feel any sympathy for these people and, in a rare occurrence, I actually agree with law enforcement. The perpetrators should be arrested and face criminal charges.. This is a disgusting and dangerous challenge. And I hope the swift and heavy police action serves as a deterrent to keep it from spreading. yuck..