A man was arrested on Saturday for allegedly assaulting a 72-year-old veteran over a face mask dispute.
Police apprehended Cody Hansen, 35, in his Spokane, Washington home after receiving an anonymous tip, local news station Q13 Fox reported. He was charged with second-degree assault.
The July 18 incident left the unidentified victim with a broken jaw and cornea abrasion, Q13 Fox reported. Surveillance footage from the lobby of the Red Lion Inn and Suites in Kent, Washington showed the attacker punching the victim several times, leaving him unconscious.
The victim, who is reportedly partially disabled and could be seen with a walking aide and dog in the footage, told officers he made a comment to Hansen’s girlfriend, who was not wearing a protective face-covering in public. He said Hansen later returned and assaulted him.
Hansen was also wanted on a drug charge and probation violation in Alaska. He is being held at the Spokane County Jail and his bail was set at $10,000.
A statewide mask mandate was implemented on June 26 after coronavirus cases started to surge again in the state.
- Stay up to date with our live blog as we cover the COVID-19 pandemic
- 7 essential pieces of relationship advice for couples in quarantine
- What you need to know about face masks right now
- How to tell if you need to start doing online therapy
- Lost your job due to coronavirus? Here’s what you need to know.
- Parenting during the coronavirus crisis?
- The HuffPost guide to working from home
- What coronavirus questions are on your mind right now? We want to help you find answers.
- Everyone deserves accurate information about COVID-19. Support journalism without a paywall — and keep it free for everyone — by becoming a HuffPost member today.