Vancouver Police: No mask citations given in incident at Chuck’s

The Vancouver Police Department issued a statement Thursday correcting what it said was misinformation circulating on social media and political media stating that the agency issued citations this month for not wearing masks in a local store.

Vancouver police responded around 3 p.m. Sept. 8 to Chuck’s Produce at 13215 S.E. Mill Plain Blvd. for a call that the store manager wanted a customer to receive a trespass notice – a civil notice which warns someone of unacceptable behavior and asks them to stay off the premises – for violating the store’s mask policy, the police department stated.

When the officer asked the customer to leave, she still refused, saying she just wanted to pay for her groceries. The manager told the officer he did not want the customer’s business and wanted her to leave, according to police.

The officer issued the trespass notice to the woman, who refused to identify herself to police, and left, according to Vancouver police.

Shortly after, police were called back to the store for reports that a group was still in the store filming and being disruptive, Vancouver police stated. When police arrived, the manager decided to evacuate the store and close it temporarily. Police said officers directed customers out of the store.

Vancouver police said officers did not issue any citations or arrest anyone during either call to the store.

Vancouver police said some political media and social media accounts have circulated “inaccurate information” that officers issued citations for violating the state mask mandate.

Chuck’s Produce did not respond to a request for comment on Friday.