An Arizona social media prankster, whose viral stunts recently caused chaos for local businesses, has been arrested, according to officials.
Arrest and Charges
The Tempe Police Department confirmed the arrest of Heston Cobb, 21, on Thursday. Authorities linked him to social media accounts that posted the prank videos and identified him as the ringleader of the group involved.
Cobb is facing multiple charges, including one count of third-degree burglary, two counts of criminal impersonation, five counts of disorderly conduct, and five counts of criminal trespass.
It remains unclear whether Cobb is still in jail or has hired legal representation.
Pranks That Crossed the Line
Police revealed that between March and July, several businesses reported incidents where a group of men dressed up like employees, entered stores, and disrupted operations.
“They began seriously disrupting their businesses by entering employee-only areas and refusing to leave when asked,” the Tempe police statement said.
According to investigators, Cobb acted as the “leader” of the group, instructing the others to start “working” inside the businesses without permission.
Viral Video Highlights
Some of Cobb’s pranks were captured on video and quickly went viral. In one clip, a man enters a Chipotle and tells the staff that he was “called in to clean house” because “portion sizes have been lacking.”
The video shows him calling his “troops,” who then begin “cleaning” the restaurant and trying to access staff-only areas behind the counter. The chaos escalates as the store manager calls the police to remove them.
Other Targeted Stores
Tempe police reported that the prank crew also hit other local businesses, including Pep Boys, Hyland Auto Repair, Big Brand Tire & Service, and Jiffy Lube.
Authorities have not confirmed whether any other members of the group have been identified or arrested at this time.
