York Region police have charged a Markham man with mischief after he allegedly coughed on money and told a store clerk that he hoped the teenaged employee would contract COVID-19.

On April 12, a 17-year-old convenience store clerk at 6605 Highway 7, near Ninth Line, asked a customer to maintain physical distancing at the cash register, police said in a news release Tuesday.

Police alleged that the man then purposely coughed on the money, threw it on to the counter, said he hoped the employee would get COVID-19 “and laughed while exiting the store.”

On Monday, police charged 39-year-old Ryan Sanders with mischief. He’s expected to appear in court on Aug. 7.

The money was separated for disinfection, police said.