Police charge man with perpetrating hoax about coronavirus

Published 8:07 pm Friday, March 20, 2020

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Albemarle Police detectives have arrested a man on a charge of perpetrating a hoax in a public building and disorderly conduct.

Justin M. Rhodes was charged with the felony Friday after police said he was the individual who conducted a Facebook Live video inside the Albemarle Walmart claiming he had tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19). Police received information about the incident on Wednesday.

Rhodes received a $10,000 secured bond and his first scheduled court appearance is at 9 a.m. March 30.