What began as viral TikTok content has spiraled into serious legal trouble for 21-year-old influencer Heston James. The Tempe Police Department arrested James (real name Heston Cobb) on July 23, 2025, after a months-long series of disruptive stunts targeting local businesses—incidents authorities confirm crossed into criminal territory.
TikTok Star Heston James Arrested in Arizona
James faces 13 criminal charges stemming from orchestrated pranks filmed at Arizona businesses between March and July 2025. According to Tempe Police reports, James repeatedly impersonated staff members at establishments like Pep Boys, Jiffy Lube, and Chipotle. His group accessed employee-only areas, caused operational chaos, and ignored orders to leave. One viral video showed James posing as a “corporate mechanic,” convincing customers to crawl under vehicles—garnering over 12 million views. Another depicted him stealing supplies from Chipotle while dressed as fake cleaning crew.
Tempe Police emphasized the real-world impact: “These videos are definitely not pranks. They are crossing the line from something that’s fun and playful into criminal territory,” stated Officer Jessica Ells in an official release dated July 24, 2025. James now faces one count of third-degree burglary, two counts of criminal impersonation, five counts of disorderly conduct, and five counts of criminal trespass.
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