Toms River Police search for pair who hit, spit at Zumiez employee over mask request

Toms River Police are continuing their investigation and search for a man and woman who became hostile at the request of a Zumiez store employee who merely asked them to put on a face mask.

On Thursday, Toms River Police Spokeswoman Jillian Messina said that officers  responded to the Ocean County Mall and Zumiez store inside for a report of a simple assault.

An employee told police officers that she saw a man and woman enter the store with masks hanging around their necks and not covering their face, so she asked them to put on their masks.

She said the man started yelling, picked up a belt and began "snapping" it towards her and eventually allegedly struck the employee.

The pair then bolted from the store but not before the female suspect turned back to yell at the employee and spit at her.

Police searched the area  for suspects but they are in the wind.

The investigation continues today and anyone with information should contact Toms River Police.

The Patch was the first to report this story.

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