The Kelowna RCMP is investigating after a person refused to wear a mask at the Rutland IGA and ended up allegedly covering an employee in hot coffee.

On Nov. 25, a customer refused to wear a mask inside the store and the employee asked them to leave.

The customer tried to leave with an unpaid bag of cat food and when the employee tried to stop them, they threw hot coffee on them, Mark McCurdy, vice president of retail operations and brand strategy with Georgia Main Food Group which oversees the Rutland location, confirmed.

"We are still looking into this incident that happened inside our store in Rutland. We are in contact with WorkSafe B.C. and RCMP non-emergency to gather further details," he said, via email. "The staff are okay and a little shaken. Unfortunately these situation are becoming common in retail throughout the province."

The RCMP confirmed they were investigating the alleged assault and were told a woman entered the business and assaulted a staff member following a request by staff to wear a mask as per recent provincial health orders.

"The suspect left the business without purchasing the grocery items she was carrying. Our investigation is in its infancy and remains ongoing at this time," according to an email sent by the RCMP.

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