Paramedic arrested after Florida deputies say he ‘intentionally coughed’ on a cashier
A paramedic was arrested after deputies say he “intentionally coughed” on a store employee in Florida.
Christopher Canfora, 49, was arrested at his home in DeBary, near Deltona, according to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office. He’s charged with aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony.
His cough was the “deadly weapon,” according to his arrest affidavit.
The incident happened at a Harbor Freight Tools store in Orange City early Tuesday. Canfora — who was wearing a dark shirt with the words “First Responder” printed on it — went up to a 21-year-old cashier to buy a few items, according to a store manager. During the transaction, he commented on the store’s social distancing measures, including tape markers on the floor to keep customers six feet apart, according to deputies.
The 21-year-old employee told deputies that Canfora laughed at the “boxes” on the ground (the tape markers) and said “This is getting out of hand, this is why everywhere I go I cough behind everyone with a mask on.”
He then coughed on her and “all over the counter,” the affidavit states. Before he left, Canfora said he was going to Winn-Dixie to “do this again” and that he “does it in all the stores,” according to sworn statements by the employee and two of her managers.
Shortly following his arrest, Canfora told deputies while in their patrol vehicle that he did not have any symptoms associated with COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
He also told them he “did not expect anyone to understand his sense of humor ... though he did not remember exactly what he said to the employees there,” the affidavit states.
Bodycam footage released by the sheriff’s office shows Canfora — prior to his arrest — telling deputies he’s a paramedic for American Medical Response, a private ambulance company, and had visited the store after finishing a 40-hour shift. He said he remembers feeling “happy-go-lucky” at the time but does not remember coughing on anyone.
While at the store, he stood in his “little square” and talked about “how the virus had gotten out of control, how everyone is coughing and freaking out” with the staff, he told deputies.
“I was running my errands quickly, picking up stuff. I was in a very good and happy mood, had some good sleep last night ... it’s what I keep telling my partner about,” Canfora told the deputies while taking out a cigarette from his pocket. “People are way out of control, everyone is freaking out about this virus. I’m a little offended by that.”
He was then arrested.
“Based on the verbal/written statements obtained on scene ... Canfora intentionally and unlawfully threatened, by word or act, (coughing on) to do violence,” the affidavit states. “At the time the threat was made (during the COVID-19 pandemic), Canfora appeared to have the ability to carry out the threat, by actively coughing.”
The affidavit continues: “Canfora’s threat created in the mind of the [victim’s name blacked out] a well-founded fear that the violence was about to take place, and assault was made either with a deadly weapon or with a fully formed conscious intent to commit a felony.”
He posted the $5,000 bond for release.
This story was originally published April 8, 2020 at 3:12 PM.
