(WWJ) After police say he admitted to wiping his nose on a dollar store clerk's shirt in Holly, a Genesee County man is back home under house arrest.
Rex Howard Gomoll, 68, was arraigned from jail via video in 52/2 District Court Wednesday morning on one count of misdemeanor assault and battery.
Holly Police Chief Jerry Narsh said Gomoll posted a $2,500 personal bond and was placed on "home confinement." Similar to the stay-home order in effect for everyone in Michigan, he has been told not leave his house in Argentine Twp. — other than to go to court, grocery shop, walk his dog or for medical reasons.
Also as a condition of his bond, Gomoll must not return to the Holly Dollar Tree or have any contact with the victim.
"This arrest was not about a mask, it was about an assault on a store clerk," Narsh told WWJ's Sandra McNeill of the incident last Saturday at the store in the 400 block of N. Saginaw St., south of Grange Hall Rd. in Holly.
Narsh said, when told by the clerk that he must wear a mask while shopping, Gomoll replied: "Here, I will use this as a mask." Narsh said Gomoll confessed to police that he made the comment before he approached the clerk, grabbed the sleeve of her shirt and wiped his nose and face on it.
Gomoll then walked away, making some angry comments about the policy before leaving, Narsh said. He was later arrested thanks to a tip from someone in the public who saw video of the incident released by police.
Narsh said people should keep in mind that stores have every right to enforce rules on their property; including requiring shoppers to wear a shirt, shoes or a mask.
"We encourage everyone to follow the rules of the private property stores that are posted, if they want to enter that store," the chief said. "In this case, the clerk did everything right. She didn't confront the man, she waited until he left and then contacted police."
Narsh said mask wearing is for the safety of essential workers; many who feel nervous going to work knowing the disease is out there, and who are doing their best to serve the public.
"It's no secret that essential workers have been getting sick, and some dying from this disease in our grocery stores and other locations," Narsh added. "It is a reasonable expectation (for customers to wear masks) because this disease is still out there. It may have flatlined — as the experts are telling us — but we all know that it's still there, people are still being infected, and there is a segment of our society that cannot win this fight if they get this disease."
While police earlier told WWJ that Gomoll would be tested for the coronavirus, Narsh said Wednesday that he wasn't certain about that. It may be something that the courts decide.
Gomoll's next scheduled court appearance is a pretrial hearing on Monday, May 18, in Clarkston. He faces up to 93 days in jail and/or a $500 fine if convicted as charged.
