Conway SC ‘Queso Man’ goes viral for series of cheesy crimes. Here’s what happened
They call him the “Queso Man,” and tales of his cheesy exploits in the Conway area are spreading far and wide online.
Early in the morning on Jan. 14, Conway homes were broken into and smeared with queso cheese and other foods. The crimes were allegedly carried out by Alec Arinello, 19, a student at Coastal Carolina University originally from New Hampshire. His alleged unorthodox crimes have now gone viral online after he was dubbed the Queso Man by the national news outlet Vice.
Police were alerted to Arinello’s alleged haphazard break-ins, which each ended in items being stolen and food being splattered about inside. Police reports show he broke into or attempted to break into at least five homes.
Arinello now faces three charges of first-degree burglary. He was released the day after his Jan. 14 arrest by Horry County Police on a $15,000 bond, according to online arrest records.
Allegations of queso poured on TV and furniture
Officers responded to Quail Run Road for reports of a breaking and entering situation, according to police reports. There, a man told police that he and his girlfriend awoke to find Arinello allegedly standing in their room. He also shared that Arinello had allegedly removed queso, eggs and salsa from his fridge. He then poured queso on the television and living room furniture, smashed eggs on the floor and flipped furniture over.
Arinello was later found hiding behind a bush by the Coastal Carolina baseball stadium after trying to flee on foot and was taken into custody.
Arinello allegedly broke into several homes and vandalized them, according to police reports. He was also accused of stealing golf clubs, pouring maple syrup throughout another home and stealing a bong. The residents of the houses where the maple syrup was poured and the bong was stolen reportedly declined to press charges.
The golf clubs were later found in Arinello’s Jeep.
