Allegedly refusing to comply with a state order that mandates the use of face masks to help stop the spread of the novel coronavirus has landed another person in legal trouble.
A Perkasie man is facing felony aggravated assault and other charges after police say he assaulted an employee of a business who asked him to wear a face covering inside the business.
Elijah Scott Brown, 24, is facing aggravated assault and other charges following an incident that allegedly stemmed from his refusal to wear a face mask.
Police said in a post published on their Crimewatch site Monday that Elijah Scott Brown, 24, of Perkasie, was in a business on W. Walnut Street Friday when he allegedly refused the request to follow guidance on posted signs about the use of face masks, which are required of employees and customers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Pennsylvania.
The order by the Department of Health went into effect April 19, and includes exceptions for very young children and individuals who are unable to wear a mask for health reasons.
After allegedly assaulting the employee, police said Brown left the scene on foot.
When officers subsequently located him a short time later, police said he “refused to comply (with orders) and began running.”
After stopping him and taking him into custody, they added that Brown “deliberately used his knee to strike an officer.”
According to police and court records, Brown was arraigned on the charge of aggravated assault and other charges before District Judge Jean Seaman in Jamison Friday evening.
Those charges include simple assault, defiant trespassing, resisting arrest, harassment and criminal mischief, per the Crimewatch post and online Brown’s criminal docket.
Brown was lodged at the Bucks County Correctional Institution in lieu of 10 percent of $30,000 bail, authorities announced.
A preliminary hearing in his case is scheduled to be held June 9 at 2:15 p.m. before District Judge Regina Armitage at Bucks County Magisterial District Court 07-2-08 in New Britain, per court records.
Note: Individuals charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.
