Santa Cruz Police Seek To Identify Anti-Mask Protesters: VIDEO

SANTA CRUZ, CA — The Santa Cruz Police Department is accepting information, photos or videos that could help officers as they seek to track down any anti-mask protesters that may have harassed or intimidated members of the public.

Some 20 maskless protesters took to downtown streets Sunday to protest masks, Santa Cruz police said. Gathering in public without masks or social distancing is against the law.

"We are getting a lot of messages from community members that Santa Cruz is fed up with anti-maskers," police said. "We hear you."

Police increased staffing on the day of the protest and sought to ensure the event was peaceful and that businesses and community members were safe, while also protecting protesters' First Amendment rights to free speech, police said.

Officers sought to intervene if needed and deescalate potential conflict, police said. They decided not to give out tickets for fear of inciting confrontation and opted to follow up after the event with any protesters that blocked doorways or stoppers, police said. Officers are currently working with businesses and looking to identify such protesters to move forward with prosecution.

"SCPD takes this issue seriously and will seek the appropriate legal action through the justice system," police wrote.

Santa Cruz Police Chief Andrew Mills denounced anti-mask protests after a group of maskless people entered the Trader Joe's store on Front Street, ignoring workers' commands to leave the store. Protesters returned to the store again Sunday, but workers formed a line in front of the doors and blocked protesters from entering, the Santa Cruz Sentinel reported.

Read: Santa Cruz Trader Joe's Targeted By Anti-Mask Protesters Again

The group is led by a person from San Jose who has been arrested multiple times and has been involved in similar events across Santa Cruz County, Mills said.

"Forcing their way into the Trader Joe’s was selfish, arrogant, ignorant, and illegal," he wrote in a blog post. "Apparently, they don’t believe in science. Ignoring science is their prerogative. Speaking out against the government, their right. We cannot and will not accept this group violating the law intentionally while putting other community members’ health at risk."

Police advised businesses that they have the right to decide whether maskless people enter their property — like the no shoes, no shirt, no service policy — and should call police to handle the matter as a trespassing incident if the encounter escalates.

Anyone with a tip is asked to contact Detective Sgt. Gregg Crofts at gcrofts@cityofsantacruz.com.