Massachusetts Police Arrest Man Who Said He Had Covid-19 And Spit On Hikers Not Wearing Face Masks

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Hale Powell, 71, has been charged with assault, assault and fake biological agent threat, Ashburnham police said in a statement.

Powell is accused of spitting on two hikers who wore no masks last week at the Hudson Overlook on the Midstate Trail in Ashburnham, calling them selfish and “completely irresponsible”.

Face masks or cloth coverings are required in all public places in Massachusetts, indoors and outdoors, even if people are able to maintain a social distance of six feet, according to a revised ordinance from November 6. of Governor Charlie Baker.

Powell pleaded not guilty to the charges in Winchendon District Court on Tuesday, according to a statement from the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office. CNN has reached out to Powell and his attorney, Robert Normandin, for their comment.

Powell was released on his own recognizance and ordered not to have contact with the alleged victims, to take a Covid-19 test and to be quarantined for 14 days, according to deputy prosecutor Marc Dupuis. These test results will be shared with the court and the two victims, Dupuis added.

Powell was arrested Tuesday without incident at his Westford home, police said.

The arrest comes as cases of a Covid-19 outbreak across the country, largely motivated by people without symptoms gathering indoors without masks, doctors say. As of Tuesday, there were at least 12.5 million cases nationwide and more than 259,000 people have died in the United States since the start of the pandemic – more than any other country by far, according to University data. Johns Hopkins.

In a video of the incident, the man can be heard asking the two hikers, “Aren’t you wearing a mask?” when one of the women interrupts him.

“I don’t care, I won’t be wearing a mask when I’m outside.”

“It’s not the law, it’s not the law,” the man replies, as the camera pans the ground to show the man walking away.

Moments later, he turns around and says, “Selfish is what it is, completely irresponsible.”

“Okay, thank you very much for your contribution,” the woman replies.

The man continues to walk away but lowers his mask, turns around and begins to walk towards the women. The woman accompanying him tries to grab his arm to stop him, but he continues towards the other two hikers.

“Okay, I have Covid,” he said, spitting twice at the women, who are a few steps away. “I have Covid, I tested positive,” he adds, spitting on women again.

He then laughs and walks away.

Police said they had received “a lot of advice” from the public and that their investigation was ongoing.

CNN’s Mirna Alsharif contributed to this report.

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