Bowling alley manager assaulted after he asked customers to wear masks, police say

Police in Maryland say a bowling alley manager was assaulted over the weekend by a group of men after asking them to wear face masks as a coronavirus prevention measure.

The Anne Arundel County Police Department said in a Monday statement that the manager at Bowl America located in Glen Burnie asked several male patrons to leave because they refused to wear face masks or coverings at approximately 7:15 p.m. on Saturday.

One of the individuals in the group of eight allegedly pushed the manager, who then escorted the group outside of the bowling alley.

“Once outside, one of the males punched the manager, causing him to fall to the ground. Other males in the group hit and kicked the manager while he was on the ground,” police said. 

Another employee of the bowling alley tried to help the manager, but he was also assaulted by the group, according to police.

The suspects were described only as Black males. They allegedly left the bowling alley before police arrived.

The manager was transported to an area hospital with minor injuries, according to the department.

Police said they have launched an investigation and asked area residents who may have witnessed the incident to contact them.

Maryland, like the rest of the country, has seen an uptick in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks. The state on Tuesday reported 2,769 cases and 32 fatalities.