Largo man charged after smashing nearly $500 worth of pumpkins

LARGO, Fla. (WFLA) — A Largo man found a unique way to vent his anger last week: by smashing pumpkins—literally.

Around 1:15 a.m. on Oct. 21, 31-year-old Aaron Thompson headed to the Target on Ulmerton Road, targeting the seasonal pumpkin display outside the store. Surveillance footage captured him picking pumpkins from the boxes and smashing them on the ground. According to an arrest affidavit, Thompson destroyed roughly 80 pumpkins, causing an estimated $472.14 in damage.

A few days later, Thompson returned to the store, where a sheriff’s deputy directed him to the loss prevention office. When shown the surveillance video, Thompson didn’t hesitate: “That’s me,” he admitted.

When asked why he smashed the pumpkins, Thompson told deputies it was because “someone was messing with him on Facebook and it made him mad,” according to the affidavit. Why he chose pumpkins as the outlet for his frustration remains a mystery.

Even after being caught on camera, Thompson showed little remorse, telling the deputy he simply went home and went to sleep after the midnight rampage.

He was arrested on Oct. 25 and charged with felony criminal mischief. Thompson is currently held at the Pinellas County Jail on a $5,000 bond.

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