LIBERTY — Two Youngstown men pleaded not guilty at their respective arraignments Tuesday after being arrested on criminal damaging charges by Liberty police.

James Crumby, 27, and Elijah Mathis, 22, of Youngstown, both were charged with criminal damaging or endangering at the Liberty Plaza Walmart at the intersection of Belmont Avenue and Goldie Road.

According to the police report, officers were dispatched to the business Monday morning about two men who came into the business and destroyed the restroom.

The men fled the scene on foot toward Hadley Avenue, but officers were eventually able to locate individuals matching their descriptions walking in front of a business on Belmont Avenue near Euclid Boulevard and made contact with them, later identifying them as Crumby and Mathis.

The report says Crumby and Mathis admitted to being at the Walmart but denied damaging the restroom, saying it was damaged before they entered.

The men said they began recording the bathroom’s damages for TikTok, but denied having any recording of the incident when police asked to see it. They were taken back to the Walmart’s asset protection office so officers could speak to staff and watch video surveillance, where employees said they’d have to call a plumber to fix the restroom because their maintenance staff could not unclog the toilet.

The employee told officers that the store’s maintenance men went into the restroom and caught Crumby and Mathis inside a stall together, and that their soap dispensers were broken open with soap covering the floor.

Video surveillance showed another person, a store employee, entering before Crumby and Mathis and was in there with them for nearly two minutes before leaving. He confirmed that the restrooms were not damaged during that time.

The report states Crumby and Mathis were in the restroom for 10 more minutes before being confronted by Walmart staff. The men fled the store after Mathis opened the stall door and saw one of its managers, who tried making them stay.

Crumby later requested to speak with officers in private, where he told them that the incident was Mathis’ idea and that he asked Crumby to record it for TikTok. Crumby said he did not record any video of him, only turning the phone in the direction of Mathis destroying the restroom.

Mathis said he wanted to “piss them off” when officers asked why he wanted to destroy it.

Both Crumby and Mathis’ bail were set at $5,000, and they’re set to appear back in court Jan. 22, court records show.

Crumby was released from jail after posting bond, but Mathis remained at the Trumbull County jail as of Tuesday evening.