A New York man has been arrested and a woman is expected to plead guilty to charges in an alleged assault on a teenage employee at the Sesame Place theme park near Philadelphia following a dispute over a mask obligation, police said.
Troy McCoy and Shakerra Bonds, both of the Bronx, each face charges including criminal conspiracy, harassment and traffic in Aug. 9 attack on 17-year-old worker, Middletown Township police said Wednesday.
McCoy, 39, tried to barricade himself in the couple’s home Wednesday morning but was arrested by federal thugs, police said.
Other charges against him include aggravated assault, simple assault and inexplicably endangering another person. He will be taken to Middletown to have prosecutors.
Police said arrangements are being made for Bonds, 31, to surrender. She is also accused of simple attack. Court documents do not list attorneys representing them.
Sesame Place, a theme for children and water park, requires that guests 2 years and older wear face masks when they are in the park, except when eating and drinking or in designated recreation areas to protect against the spread of the coronavirus. Face coverings are not allowed in the park’s water attractions.
The employee reminded the couple of the requirement of the mask and was punched in the face before the two fled, police said. He was taken to a hospital and stayed there for seven days. He required surgery for a fractured jaw and injuries to his teeth, police said.
“It’s a shame you have to work hard for a 17-year-old and he’s doing the right thing and reminding people of the governor’s mask policy and instructions, and they did not receive it properly,” police detective Steve Forman told NBC News , referring to the mandate of Tomke Wolf of Pennsylvania to wear masks in public.
A Sesame Place spokeswoman, Dana Ryan, thanked police in a statement Wednesday “for their swift action and support.”
“We have issued a life ban to the persons involved for all our parks throughout the country,” the statement said. “The safety of our team members and guests remains our top priority.”
