Allegheny County

Man charged after physical encounter at Giant Eagle over not wearing a mask

MONROEVILLE, Pa. — Nick Conley from Verona captured the encounter on his phone when he tried to walk into a Monroeville Giant Eagle without a face mask on.

“Stop touching me! That’s the second time you touched me!” you can hear Conley saying on the recording.

He said he was stopped by store security at the door. He claimed he tried to explain that he had a doctor’s note, exempting him from wearing a mask due to panic attacks.

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“Do you feel that when you go into a grocery store without a mask that you’re putting anyone else at risk?” asked NBC’s Sarah Harman.

“It’s hard to say. That’s a really tough question for me to answer. No, me personally, if I was scared, I would stay home. I’m just not scared,” Conley said.

Giant Eagle issued a statement, saying “We are committed to safeguarding the health and well-being of our team members and guests while creating a safe and comfortable environment for everyone.”

Conley said he has gone to other Giant Eagle stores without a mask and had never been stopped.

According to TribLive.com, Conley was charged with defiant trespassing, simple assault and disorderly conduct.