We are aware of a video circulating that shows a Bothell Police Officer taking a female into custody. In most of the social media posts, the wording used to describe the video includes language claiming the “Bothell Police arrest women for not wearing a mask.” This description is not accurate. We have not arrested any person, at any time, for “not wearing a mask.” The person in this video was being taken into custody for Criminal Trespassing.
On October 17th, officers responded to a grocery store in the 22600 block of Bothell Everett Hwy SE to investigate a group of people staging in front of the store and allegedly harassing customers as they entered. The caller also advised that members of the group were entering the store without wearing facial coverings and were refusing to leave when asked by management.
When our officers arrived, they could see 60-70 people gathered in front of the store shouting, chanting and holding signs containing statements to the effect “The Pandemic is a Fraud” and “Honk if you Question the Mask Mandate.”
One of our officers parked, walked through the group and contacted store employees just inside the business. The store employees advised they were there to provide free face coverings to those entering the store. The employees advised there were currently 10 (or so) people inside the store refusing to wear face coverings after being asked. The manager also contacted our officer and explained he was concerned the group outside was impeding customer’s ability to enter the store and they were blocking the fire lane.
Our officer contacted several members of the group and explained to them that if they were not willing to abide by the guidelines the store had in place, the store wanted them criminally trespassed. The subjects who were contacted left the store and joined the group outside.
A short time later, the female in the video entered the store with a small group. They were offered face coverings and refused. This small group approached the officer and questioned him about “supporting a corrupt system.” Our officer explained that he would speak with them outside and they agreed to leave the store with him. Outside, the group spent time speaking with our officer about the Americans with Disabilities Act, “government corruption”, and the “fake pandemic.” Our officer explained to the group that Bothell Police was not enforcing the mask mandate. Our officer also advised the group that if a person enters the store without a face covering and refuses to leave after multiple requests from the management, they will be issued a trespass warning. He told the group that if they remained after the warnings, they may be arrested and charged with criminal trespass.
Our officer went back inside the store. A short time later, 5 minutes or so, the small group returned. The female was asked multiple times to leave and refused. Our officer was speaking with the group when the manager approached and advised he would like them trespassed from the store. The female argued with the manager. Our officer explained to the female, and the other two subjects, they were trespassed and if they refused to leave they may be arrested. The female subject walked away from the officer. Our officer called out to her as she walked away advising that she would be arrested if she did not leave the store. The female ignored the officer and continued to walk through the store. One of the others from the group, walked back towards the front of the store. A male subject from the group remained and recorded the incident with his phone.
Our officer caught up to the female, informed her she was under arrest, and attempted to gain control of her arm to place her in handcuffs. The female pulled away from the officer and resisted his attempts to secure her. As she continued to pull away from the officer, he was able to get her turned away from him and position her against a produce wall. The female struggles to avoid being taken into custody for two minutes. The officer was able to get the female in handcuffs and they left the store. The male subject who was recording the incident also left the store.
The female subject was removed from the scene and taken to the police department. She was released a short time later. Charges were referred to the prosecutor’s office.
This incident is documented under case #20-20491.