Walmart Challenge Lands Teen Behind Bars

An 18-year-old Florida man was arrested late Tuesday after deputies say he tried to camp overnight inside a Walmart for a 24-hour TikTok challenge, hiding in the dog bed section and briefly livestreaming before he was caught. The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office said the arrest happened shortly before midnight at the Walmart on McCall Road.

Deputies identified the teen as Isaac Hurley of Charlotte County. Investigators say he entered the store at about 10:15 p.m. with the goal of staying past closing to film a “24-hour fort” video for views and potential payouts on the app. A call to 911 reported a person still inside after doors were locked and noted the suspect was live on TikTok. The sheriff’s office said deputies found Hurley within roughly two hours of entry and took him into custody without incident. The case arrives amid a string of social media dares that have drawn police responses across Florida and other states, prompting warnings from law enforcement and retailers.

According to the sheriff’s office, deputies responded just after 11 p.m. to a reported burglary at the store in the 1900 block of South McCall Road, where employees told authorities a male had slipped out of sight as staff closed registers and prepared to leave. Deputies said they checked aisles and storage areas before finding Hurley crouched among pet beds with a phone, a backpack and snacks. A preliminary report said he had opened and used an iPhone charger taken from store packaging. “This trend needs to stop,” Sheriff Bill Prummell said in a statement. “Breaking the law for clicks or cash is still breaking the law.” The store reopened on its normal schedule Wednesday after managers reviewed security footage and staff procedures with deputies.

Hurley was booked into the Charlotte County Jail on charges of burglary of an occupied structure and petit theft, records show. Deputies said the “occupied” designation reflects that employees were still inside as the store closed. No injuries were reported, and no store employees were threatened. Investigators said the teen told deputies he hoped to complete the challenge to “make money off the views.” Officials said they will examine his livestream and the store’s camera footage as part of the case file. Property room staff logged the opened charger and other items as evidence. The sheriff’s office did not report additional damage beyond the opened merchandise and time spent clearing the building.

The Englewood Walmart sits along a busy corridor linking residential neighborhoods and Gulf communities in south Sarasota and Charlotte counties. Similar stunts — sometimes called “24-hour challenges” — have surfaced periodically over the past decade, with participants attempting to remain unseen in big-box stores, malls or theme parks until morning. Retailers typically train night teams to sweep sales floors and lock high-risk areas. Law enforcement agencies say such trespassing calls draw multiple units, tying up patrol resources and requiring cleared searches of expansive buildings with blind corners and back rooms. In this case, deputies said they moved aisle by aisle with managers who provided a master key and layout map of the store.

Prummell, who has led the office since 2012, has publicly criticized social media dares that encourage lawbreaking. “These aren’t pranks,” he said. “They put employees and the public at risk, and they waste resources that might be needed for real emergencies.” Deputies said the call Tuesday triggered an “occupied structure” response, which assumes potential suspects could be hiding or attempting to break into back areas. Patrol units established a perimeter while a K-9 team and additional deputies entered through a receiving door. The search ended in the pet aisle, where deputies said Hurley complied with commands and walked out in handcuffs as night-shift employees waited by the front registers.

Public records show first appearance hearings for similar trespass-and-theft cases are typically scheduled within 24 to 48 hours in Charlotte County. Hurley posted a $1,500 bond after booking and was released pending further court action, deputies said. Prosecutors will review the file and decide whether to pursue the burglary charge as filed or amend counts to trespass and theft based on evidence. The sheriff’s office said it expects to submit supplemental reports after investigators pull store video and save any relevant social media clips before they are deleted or made private. The retailer can also seek restitution for damaged or opened merchandise if a court orders it during sentencing.

Walmart’s Florida locations, like other large retailers, operate with staggered closing routines that leave some employees inside for cleaning, inventory counts and restocking after doors are locked. Deputies said that detail matters; remaining in a building after closing without permission can meet the elements of burglary when workers are still present. Investigators also documented the packaging from the opened phone charger and photographed the pet aisle where the teen was found. Managers told deputies the store will review closing protocols and staff reminders about late-night sweep checks around high-shelf displays and secluded endcaps where people sometimes attempt to hide after hours.

Customers who arrived Wednesday morning described seeing patrol SUVs outside before opening as a supervisor unlocked the doors a few minutes after the posted time. “We thought it was a shoplifter,” said Mary Ellen Fisher, who lives nearby and shops at the store weekly. A night-shift employee who declined to give his name said coworkers noticed “someone ducking into an aisle” as the final announcement played over the intercom. “We cleared pets first,” he said, recalling the search that ended with deputies in the dog bed section. The sheriff’s office later shared still images from security footage with investigators and reminded residents that many online challenges can lead to criminal charges.

As of Saturday, deputies said no additional arrests were expected in the case, and there was no indication anyone else helped the teen plan the stunt. The court clerk’s website did not list a hearing date yet. The sheriff’s office said updates will be released after prosecutors make charging decisions and once a judge sets an arraignment. The store returned to normal operations, and investigators asked that any video of the incident be preserved should it be needed later in court filings.

Author note: Last updated January 18, 2026.