FL Teen Tried To Stay Overnight At Walmart For TikTok Challenge: Sheriff

ENGLEWOOD, FL — An 18-year-old was arrested for trying to stay inside a Walmart store in Englewood for 24 hours as part of a TikTok challenge, the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

Deputies responded Tuesday just after 11 p.m. to reports of a burglary at the store at 2931 S. McCall Road.

The caller told deputies that there was a man in the store who was actively live streaming to TikTok after Walmart had closed for the night.

After entering the store, deputies found Isaac M. Hurley in the dog bed section, the sheriff’s office said.

Investigators learned that Hurley went into the store around 10:15 p.m. and intended to stay inside overnight. His plan was part of a TikTok challenge and he hoped to earn money based on the number of views he could get while staying overnight in the store.

While inside the Walmart, Hurley removed an iPhone charger from its package, deputies said.

He was charged with burglary of an occupied structure and petit theft (for the phone charger.) He was booked into Charlotte County Jail and bonded out for $1,500.

“I’m not sure why people buy into these social media challenges when they are clearly encouraging you to violate the law. From the ‘kicking in the front door’ challenge, to the destruction of public property thing a couple years ago, to now something as silly as this, young people especially are putting themselves in bad situations and paying the price for it,” Sheriff Bill Prummell said. “Why aren’t any of these challenges aimed at making the world better? Imagine mobilizing an entire generation to do positive things — the impact that could have. Instead, we are busy arresting people for making poor choices just to get views and likes. It’s a shame.”

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