Man allegedly punched restaurant staff, bit patron after refusing to wear a mask: Victoria police

Victoria police say they arrested a man who allegedly assaulted a staff member and bit a patron on Tuesday night after he was asked to wear a mask.

Police say staff and patrons at the restaurant, located in the 700-block of Yates Street, reported a man who they believed was intoxicated by drugs walked into the establishment without a face mask.

0:42 Video captures confrontation over mandatory mask at Victoria market

When staff asked him to wear a face covering, the man allegedly punched a staff member. Staff and customers restrained the suspect, who then bit a restaurant patron before officers arrived.

The man was arrested for assault causing bodily harm. He was held in custody and later released on conditions, police said.

Back in November, Victoria police arrested a man at a grocery store in the 900-block of Yates Street after a confrontation over wearing a mask.

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The man was issued a $230 fine under the COVID-19 Related Measures Act for abusive or belligerent behaviour, police said at the time.

1:39 Suspect who refuses to wear mask wanted in connection with Vancouver convenience store assault

Last month, a Vancouver police officer suffered a broken leg after an alleged assault by a man who was refusing to wear a mask.

–With files from Simon Little and Amy Judd