A weekend Target run in Ocala turned surreal when police say a teen on a riding lawn mower rolled straight into the big-box store, with a friend filming the whole stunt for social media.
According to FOX 35 Orlando, 18-year-old Janek Szkaradek is accused of driving the mower through the Target on Southwest College Road on Saturday, striking and damaging a door inside the store. Ocala police say 18-year-old Luke Charske was right there with a camera rolling, capturing the chaos.
Both teens were taken into custody on Saturday, and officers say the spectacle was no harmless goof. The Ocala Police Department called it a stunt staged for social media that triggered an immediate law-enforcement response.
Investigators also believe the mower incident was not Szkaradek’s first brush with viral-style pranks that weekend. The night before, the same teen allegedly walked into a nearby Culver’s on the same road and fired up a leaf blower inside the restaurant while it was being filmed, disrupting business and prompting another police response, as reported by WFTV. “These actions endangered people and caused property damage. They are crimes, not harmless videos,” Ocala police said, per the station.
Charges and legal risks
Szkaradek was booked on counts of criminal mischief and disorderly conduct in connection with the Target mower stunt, officials said. Charske was charged as a principal tied to the same incident, according to FOX 35 Orlando.
Authorities are reviewing all available video and witness statements and are weighing whether additional charges might follow, the outlet reported.
Police warning and local context
Ocala officers used the high-profile arrest as a cautionary tale, urging residents to think twice before chasing clicks with dangerous stunts. These kinds of pranks might look like quick viral content, but in real life, they can turn a store into a crime scene and participants into defendants, police said, as reported by WFTV.
Both teens remain in custody while the investigation continues. The Ocala Police Department said it will release more details as they become available and asked anyone with information about either incident to contact the department.
