2 Charged In Mask-Related Assault At Ocean County Mall: Police

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A man and woman who hit and spit at a store employee at the Ocean County Mall after she told them they had to wear their face masks in the store have been identified and charged in the incident, Toms River police said.

Richard Alter, 41, and Sylina Kramer, 32, both of Binghamton, N.Y.. have been charged in the July 9 incident at Zumiez, said Jillian Messina, media relations specialist for the Toms River Police Department.

The incident happened shortly after 3 p.m. July 9, Messina said. The victim told police a man and woman walked into Zumiez, which sells skateboards and apparel, with their face masks hanging around their necks.

The victim, who works at Zumiez, told the two they needed to wear their masks properly to shop. She told police the man became irate, yelling, and picked up a belt and snapped it at her, hitting her with the belt, Messina said.

As the man and woman left the store, the made several threatening comments and the woman turned around and yelled at the employee, then spit at her, Messina said.

Alter was charged with second-degree terroristic threats and simple assault, and a warrant was issued for his arrest, she said. Kramer was charged with simple assault and issued a summons.

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