British tourist arrested for 'coughing on people and saying he had coronavirus'
A British tourist has been arrested after he allegedly coughed on restaurant diners in the Majorcan capital Palma and told them he had coronavirus.
The 43-year-old resisted arrest when police intercepted him after being alerted by alarmed locals.
He was held just after 11pm on Monday in fashionable Santa Catalina, one of Palma’s most sought-after neighbourhoods boasting a popular food market and stylist boutiques as well as bustling bars and restaurants.
He was not wearing a face mask and is said to have been drunk at the time of his arrest.
It was not immediately clear this morning if he had appeared in court over the incident.
As well as walking between tables in several bar and restaurant terraces and ‘deliberately’ coughing on customers, he is also said to have coughed over the owner of one of the eateries when he protested.
A police spokesman confirmed this morning: ‘A British man was held on Monday night.
‘We were called by witnesses who said he had been coughing over people.’
National Police in the Majorcan capital Palma said in a statement: ‘The suspect was arrested for a crime of disobedience and resisting arrest.
‘We were alerted around 11pm on Monday that a man had been walking around different bars and restaurants in Palma’s Santa Catalina neighbourhood, in a drunken state, insulting people without a face mask on and allegedly coughing deliberately over diners while telling them he had Covid-19.
‘The individual we held disobeyed officers when they arrived and was aggressive towards them. He was subsequently arrested.’
A source added: ‘He was tested for Covid-19 because he was claiming he had the virus.
‘The test has come back negative. He was held for resisting arrest but would have faced further charges if he had tested positive.
‘They would have been a public health offence and a crime of wounding if he had been found to have infected others with coronavirus as a result of his actions.’
The Brit, who has not been named, was staying at a hotel in the municipality of Calvia which includes the party resort of Magaluf.
The police source said: ‘He was alone when he was held and had been drinking.
‘His behaviour appears to have been fuelled by excess alcohol.’
He was held just after 11pm on Monday in fashionable Santa Catalina, one of Palma’s most sought-after neighbourhoods boasting a popular food market and stylist boutiques as well as bustling bars and restaurants.
He was not wearing a face mask and is said to have been drunk at the time of his arrest.
It was not immediately clear this morning if he had appeared in court over the incident.
As well as walking between tables in several bar and restaurant terraces and ‘deliberately’ coughing on customers, he is also said to have coughed over the owner of one of the eateries when he protested.
A police spokesman confirmed this morning: ‘A British man was held on Monday night.
‘We were called by witnesses who said he had been coughing over people.’
National Police in the Majorcan capital Palma said in a statement: ‘The suspect was arrested for a crime of disobedience and resisting arrest.
‘We were alerted around 11pm on Monday that a man had been walking around different bars and restaurants in Palma’s Santa Catalina neighbourhood, in a drunken state, insulting people without a face mask on and allegedly coughing deliberately over diners while telling them he had Covid-19.
‘The individual we held disobeyed officers when they arrived and was aggressive towards them. He was subsequently arrested.’
A source added: ‘He was tested for Covid-19 because he was claiming he had the virus.
‘The test has come back negative. He was held for resisting arrest but would have faced further charges if he had tested positive.
‘They would have been a public health offence and a crime of wounding if he had been found to have infected others with coronavirus as a result of his actions.’
The Brit, who has not been named, was staying at a hotel in the municipality of Calvia which includes the party resort of Magaluf.
The police source said: ‘He was alone when he was held and had been drinking.
‘His behaviour appears to have been fuelled by excess alcohol.’