Santa Cruz Trader Joe's Targeted By Anti-Mask Group

SANTA CRUZ, CA — The downtown Santa Cruz Trader Joe's location was recently targeted by an anti-mask group, according to a video recently posted to YouTube.

The nearly eight-minute video, uploaded Feb. 14, shows an unmasked group of at least a dozen people entering the grocery store off of Front Street, and eventually leaving cash for their items because workers refused to serve them.

Santa Cruz Police Chief Andrew Mills harshly condemned the group's actions in a tweet:

@SantaCruzPolice are aware of the awful incident at #TraderJoes market. It’s unacceptable behavior by a group of anti-science, anti-vaccine #QAnonsense type conspiracy supporters. #SCPD will take action when legally possible. pic.twitter.com/Y5y3HMXGpY
— Andrew Mills (@ChiefAndyMills) February 17, 2021

The video shows employees near the entrance of the store immediately spotted the unmasked group as they headed inside and attempted to stop them, but the group continued past the workers. Shoppers also called for the group to leave and one unmasked man claimed a shopper threw a basket at him.

"Don't touch me, that's assault," one man said as an employee stepped in front of some unmasked people, in an apparent attempt to stop them from entering an aisle.

The group continued to ignore workers' commands to leave the store and meandered about, picking up items and taking note of the prices. The group left a pile of cash at the checkout station and attempted to leave, but employees stood at the entrance and blocked them, taking the items from their hands when possible.

Employees — who appeared to be growing increasingly frustrated — told the group that they were committing theft and instructed them to retrieve their money from the checkout, despite the repeated insistence of unmasked people that they had already paid.

"We refuse to serve you," an employee said. "If you guys want to leave with that, it's theft, there's cops."

The exchange grows increasingly heated as the unmasked group exits the store and the confrontation spills into the parking lot.

California requires people to wear masks, as they they can limit the release of viruses into the air, according to the state.

"Cloth masks or face coverings can reduce your eposure to infectious droplets through filtration," the state said. "It also reinforces physical distancing, and shows you care about the health of others."

More than 14,000 COVID-19 cases had been reported in Santa Cruz County as of Tuesday, the most recent data available as of this writing. There have been 170 local deaths linked to the coronavirus.