Melbourne police arrested a homeless man who they said beat a tree with a stick because he was angry with the ants that bit him.

Joseph Elijah Smith, 29, told police Tuesday he was angry with the ants inhabiting the tree. He was charged with criminal mischief after workers at the newly opened Wawa convenience store at 1809 U.S. 1 called to report a disturbance.

Workers said Smith also grabbed a large piece of wood and smashed a dent into a store trash can, causing about $500 in damage, before walking across to the tree and beating it repeatedly.

Melbourne police officers arrived within minutes and found Smith still clutching the piece of wood. Smith told the officers he was ‘upset at the ants in the tree for biting him,’ reports show.

Smith was booked into the Brevard County Jail Complex in Sharpes.

Contact Gallop at 321-242-3642, jdgallop@floridatoday.com and Twitter @JDGallop

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