Man allegedly brandishes gun after being asked to wear mask

MORGAN HILL >> A 27-yearold man was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of brandishing a handgun at a Target in Morgan Hill after employees asked him to put on a mask, police said.

The incident was reported at the Target at 1061 Cochrane Road at 5:30 p.m., said Morgan Hill police Sgt. Bill Norman.

When officers arrived at the scene, they were told a man had entered the store without wearing a mask. Two female employees asked him to put on a mask, sparking a verbal confrontation. On Aug. 1, Target made face coverings mandatory for all customers, excluding young children and those with underlying medical conditions.

Norman said the man seemed to be agitated and pulled what appeared to be a handgun from his pocket. Fearing for their safety, the employees backed away and dialed 911.

Officers found the man inside the store and “were able to de- escalate the situation and safely take him into custody,” Norman said. The man did not fire any shots, and no one was injured.

No gun was found during a search, but Norman said the man “had time to hide it” before officers arrived at the scene.

The man was booked into Santa Clara County jail on a charge of brandishing a weapon.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended community use of masks to limit transmission of COVID-19. In September, infectious disease experts at UC San Francisco also theorized those who manage to contract the virus through a mask are less likely to fall seriously ill, this news organization previously reported.

Anyone with information related to the case can contact Norman at 669-253- 4982 or bill.norman@morganhill.ca.gov.