A Toledo library worker had a box of live cockroaches hurled at them Tuesday, forcing the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library's Kent Branch to shut its doors for the rest of the day while crews scrambled to clean up the mess. Pest control was called in, police were contacted, and library officials said no one was hurt in the bizarre confrontation.
Patron Grew Agitated Before Throwing Insects, Officials Say
According to a library statement, the trouble started when a staff member asked a patron to take their belongings, including a box, outside because cockroaches were seen climbing on the items. Per WTOL, the patron became agitated and threw the box of cockroaches at the worker. The outlet reported that library administrators said 911 was called following the incident, and that pest control was brought in to contain the situation.
The branch, located on Collingwood Boulevard, closed for the rest of the day for cleanup and remediation, as reported by 13abc. The station noted that it remained unclear at the time whether anyone would face charges, with the investigation still ongoing.
Reopening Hopes for Wednesday
Library staff told 13abc they hoped to have the Kent Branch reopened Wednesday, though it was not confirmed whether that timeline held. The station's report did not specify whether a suspect had been identified or taken into custody as the investigation continued.
The incident, first detailed locally by Toledo television stations, was also picked up nationally by Cleveland.com, which reported that library staff said no injuries resulted from the thrown box. The strange episode left the Kent Branch dealing with an unplanned closure and a cleanup crew tasked with ridding the building of unwanted pests, while police and library officials continued looking into exactly what prompted the patron's outburst.
