Tissues – and toilet paper – are not worth an arrest!

A Coquitlam woman is facing criminal charges after allegedly coughing at a grocery clerk who would not let her buy extra tissues.

Coquitlam RCMP were called on April 13, at about 1:45 p.m., by a grocery store employee in the 1400-block of Parkway Boulevard who said an irate customer had deliberately coughed onto a grocery store clerk. The suspect was allegedly angry that the clerk had not allowed her to purchase more than the store’s maximum amount of tissue paper.

“This is a great example of why we need to keep perspective, take a breath, and treat essential workers like grocery store clerks with the respect they deserve,” said Cpl. Michael McLaughlin on Wednesday. “Whether you deliberately cough on police, hospital workers, or grocery clerks, abuse or assaults against essential workers will not be tolerated.”

Shortly after speaking to witnesses and reviewing video of the alleged assault, Coquitlam RCMP arrested a 25-year-old Coquitlam woman at her home.

The suspect has no significant history with police. She has been released on an appearance notice which compels her to appear in court on July 13.