Crime & Safety
Man Accused Of Shaking Child's Hand, Telling Him He Has COVID-19
A man is being accused of urging a child to take his face mask off, grabbing his hand and then announcing, "You now have coronavirus."
TREASURE ISLAND, FL — A 47-year-old Redington Shores man has been charged with battery after being accused of telling a child to take his face mask off at a restaurant, grabbing his hand and then announcing to the child, "You now have coronavirus."
Treasure Island Police charged Jason Copenhaver with simple battery and disorderly conduct.
According to an arrest report, Copenhaver was at Ricky T’s Bar & Grille, 10601 Gulf Blvd., Treasure Island, when we walked over to a child and told him to remove his face mask. When the child refused, eyewitnesses said Copenhaver leaned down close to the child's face, shook his hand and told him he now has coronavirus.
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The child told police Copenhaver was so close he could feel spit particles from Copenhaver's mouth land on his face.
Copenhaver told police he's never been tested, so he doesn't know if he has coronavirus.
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