A man has been charged after refusing to wear a face mask in-store and allegedly assaulting a store worker in the Upper Hunter region yesterday.
About 4.15pm (Tuesday 19 October 2021), a 30-year-old man was working at a food store on Mayne Street, Murrurundi when a man entered the store without wearing a face mask.
The store employee offered the man a mask, when the man allegedly became verbally aggressive towards the worker and left the store.
A short time later, the man returned to the store and walked behind the counter, before allegedly assaulting the employee repeatedly and attempting to drag him from the store while threatening him.
Customers went to the aid of the injured man, and the man left the scene.
The store employee was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics for cuts and bruises to his face and swelling to his left eye, before being taken to Murrurundi Hospital. He has since been released.
Officers from Hunter Valley Police District were called and commenced investigations.
Following inquiries, police attended a home on Rosella Street, Murrurundi, and arrested a 53-year-old man.
He was taken to Muswellbrook Police Station where he was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The man was granted conditional bail, to appear at Scone Local Court on 18 November 2021.
