LA CRESCENTA, Calif. (KNX) — Parents in La Crescenta demanded action Monday from Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies following reports of a man harassing children for wearing masks as they walked home from school.
The man, who was seen wearing a t-shirt reading, "Your mask makes you look stupid," has allegedly been harassing children in La Crescenta for wearing masks for several weeks. Parents said he had followed middle and elementary school students, shouting anti-mask rhetoric.
The man was caught on video appearing to harass students near Rosemont Middle School in recent days. He also allegedly shouted obscenities within students' earshot.
"Masks don't work, they're f*cking child abuse," the man can be heard on a video clip provided to CBS Los Angeles.
“Clearly there is a problem here, not just a mental health problem but an anger management issue where he feels compelled to attack people who are more vulnerable than him,” a parent told the network.
When the man allegedly coughed in students' faces, a deputy was called to intervene. On arrival, the officer reportedly told parents no crime had been committed and lectured children on the importance of freedom of speech instead.
The L.A. County Sheriff's Department has since identified the man in the videos and were working with Glendale police to investigating the allegations.
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