A man who filmed himself licking a tub of Blue Bell ice cream before putting it back in a viral video has spoken out.
“It was a joke with no criminal intent or activity ... but I was locked up with murderers and real criminals on maxim security,” said Martin in an interview with the news outlet, which showed him smiling and holding the ice cream.
The local news report didn’t offer any further details about the incident, but based on his statement and the station’s photo, it appears he bailed out of jail after his arrest.
Investigators said that management asked Martin to return to the store when they became aware of the clip, according to the report.
“Taking into consideration that he eventually purchased the same container is one thing,” Cavalier said. “However, he puts it on Facebook to gain this notoriety and at the end of the day, it gives other people ideas that are not the best interest of public health,” he added.
Authorities later questioned Martin, and he was charged with unlawful posting of criminal activity for notoriety and publicity and tampering with property.
“We discourage anyone from copying this atrocious act,” a sheriff’s office spokesperson also told WAFB.
“It is illegal. It’s a health risk to others. We will pursue anyone we see do this. You will be charged,” the official said.
The spokesman said that other law enforcement agencies have sent out notices to investigators about copycat cases after a Texas juvenile’s video went viral, showing her doing the same to a tub of Blue Bell ice cream at a Walmart. She was later identified by police, but her name wasn’t released by officials.
Of Martin, police “believe it’s a copycat incident,” Cavalier said. “He did it and he did want to create some notoriety for himself by posting it on Facebook and that’s exactly what he did.”
Blue Bell, in a statement, suggested that it might have more protections on its products following the two incidents.
Teen Identified
Police in East Texas said that a teenager from San Antonio was identified as the suspect who took a container of Blue Bell ice cream, licked it, put the lid back on, and then placed it back in the shelf at an area Walmart.A video of the incident has gone viral, drawing horror from people on social media.
“You foul,” says a voice off-camera in the clip.