For some inexplicable reason, the current health crisis has led to a bizarre run on toilet paper. Everyone everywhere seems to be panic buying the stuff in bulk despite the fact that, you know, there’s plenty to go around and there’s only so many times you’ll need the toilet. However, that hasn’t stopped TP madness from taking over. In fact, a California man was arrested this week after punching his mother for hiding toilet paper from the rest of the family, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Family disturbance calls can start out over small things, and then they escalate. Deputies responded to call where family members were arguing w/ each other because one felt the other one hid toilet paper. It turned into physical confrontation. One got arrested.
— SCV Sheriff (@SCVSHERIFF) April 8, 2020
- What is going on in the world? Police were called to a residence in Saugus, Los Angeles County, at 3 a.m. on April 6 after reports that a fight over toilet paper had turned violent. There, they arrested 26-year-old Adrian Yan on suspicion of battery after discovering that he’d punched his mother for allegedly hiding toilet paper.
- The argument seemed to come out of nowhere. According to Shirley Miller of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station, Yan claimed his mother, who is in her 40s, was keeping toilet paper rolls away from him and the rest of the family. The argument escalated and became violent soon after. It’s unclear what made him believe that the TP was being hidden and for what purpose, but logic clearly didn’t play a part in this incident.
- It’s unclear what will happen to Yan. As of Tuesday, the LA Times reported that he was still in custody. However, battery in California carries a potential $2,000 fine and up to six months in prison. Was it really worth it?
- Deputies weren’t surprised this happened. As Miller explained, the fact that people are self-isolating together means that tensions are running high and disputes are escalating. “It was to be expected, it’s happening everywhere,” she said. Even Sheriff Alex Villanueva expressed concern over the risk of increased violence during the state’s shelter-in-place period.
