A manager at Walmart said Janet Jones, while trying to flee the store with a bag of meat, told her and two other employees she had AIDS, then coughed in their faces, spit in their direction, and claimed, “Now y'all have it.”
Police were called to the Walmart on Cummings Highway on April 24 about a shoplifter and disorder. Upon arrival, they found Ms. Jones in a stall in the women’s bathroom, washing her shorts in the toilet. Ms. Jones said she had had a seizure.
Front end manager Patti Smith told police Ms. Jones had placed about $180 worth of various meats into a blue Walmart bag and attempted to leave the store. When one employee confronted her and tried to take the bag, police were told Ms. Jones kicked the employee in the leg, knocking her to the ground, and attempted to flee.
Police said the three female employees whom Ms. Jones coughed and spit at denied being checked for exposure. Ms. Jones said she needed medicine for her seizures and was transported to Erlanger Hospital.
She was arrested on Friday and charged with theft of property, assault, and three counts of criminal exposure to HIV.