A man was arrested in Yuma after coughing on a gas pump handle, the Yuma Police Department said.

A 23-year-old man from Winterhaven, California, was arrested by Yuma police for Unlawful Use of Infectious Biological Substance after police received numerous Facebook messages sharing the video on Saturday evening, Sgt. Lori Franklin said. The video showed the man coughing on the gas pump handle and referencing the spread of the new coronavirus.

The investigation led to finding the man's name and address. The man was willingly interviewed by Yuma police on Sunday, Franklin said.

The man told police he got the idea after seeing other videos of the same nature online. He did not show any signs or symptoms for COVID-19, Franklin said.

This is the first COVID-19-related incident of this nature Yuma police have dealt with, Franklin said.

Reach the reporter James Carr at James.Carr@arizonarepublic.com or on Twitter @JamestheCarr