A Florida teen attempted to get social media views by conducting a TikTok Walmart challenge, but the stunt landed the 18-year-old in jail, authorities said.
Isaac M. Hurley, 18, was live streaming on the social media app from inside an Englewood Walmart shortly after 11 p.m. Jan. 13, according to the Charolette County Sheriff’s Office. The store, located in southwest Florida, had already closed for the night.
A viewer watching on TikTok called authorities and reported the incident. Hurley was located in the dog bed section.
It was determined he entered the store at 10:15 p.m. and intended to stay there all night in hopes of earning money based on the number of TikTok views he could accumulate.
“I’m not sure why people buy into these social media challenges when they are clearly encouraging you to violate the law,” Sheriff Bill Prummell said.
“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,” he 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.”
Michelle Spitzeris a journalist for The USA TODAY NETWORK-FLORIDA. As the network’s Rapid Response reporter, she covers Florida’s breaking news. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Florida teen ends up in jail following a Walmart TikTok challenge