Florida man charged with biological weapons hoax after telling cops he has COVID-19

At 31-year-old St. Petersburg man has been charged with perpetrating a biological weapons hoax for pretending to be infected with COVID-19, according to U.S. State Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez.

James Jamal Curry could face up to five years in prison, if convicted.

According to the complaint filed in federal court, St. Petersburg police officers responded to a domestic violence call on March 27. Probable cause was developed to arrest Curry who then told officers he was infected with COVID-19 and then intentionally coughed on one of the officers.

Curry bonded out of the Pinellas County jail the following day, still only charged with domestic violence. Police responded to the same residence on the day of his release and arrested Curry a second time for violating a court order to stay away from the victim.

Federal investigators say Curry spit on an arresting officer multiple times, hitting the officer’s face, nose and inside her mouth with blood-filled saliva. Curry again told officers he was infected, laughed about it and said he was intentionally spreading the virus around.

He then threatened the officer’s life, telling her he knows where she lives and was going to kill her, according to the complaint.

Law enforcement obtained a search warrant to test Curry for COVID-19 and he tested negative. Investigators say he did not display any symptoms while in custody.