Angry customer unleashes bear spray over coffee shop’s COVID-19 rules, Oregon cops say

Angry over an Oregon coffee shop’s coronavirus rules, a 49-year-old man unleashed a canister of bear spray inside the business Sunday morning, Corvallis police say.

Darren Perreard faces accusations including disorderly conduct, criminal mischief, assault, unlawful use of mace and possession of methamphetamine in the 9:08 a.m. incident at Tried & True Coffee Co., the Corvallis Gazette-Times reported.

Perreard became upset when employees required him to pay with a credit or debit card as a coronavirus precaution, police wrote on Facebook.

“After over two decades in this profession, it’s not really feasible to be able to predict everyone’s thought process,” said police Lt. Joel Goodwin, the Corvallis Gazette-Times reported.

Perreard sprayed bear mace, a sort of pepper spray meant to repel bears, in the air before leaving, according to police. Two other people were in the coffee shop at the time.

Officers found Perreard a short distance away from the coffee shop and cited him, police wrote.

Goodwin said it’s not against the law to carry bear spray, but noted there have been no recent bear sightings in Corvallis, the Corvallis Gazette-Times reported.

Police did not say whether anyone was injured in the incident. They asked that any witnesses call Officer Brock Bristow at 541-766-6924.

This story was originally published May 13, 2020 at 9:58 AM with the headline "Angry customer unleashes bear spray over coffee shop’s COVID-19 rules, Oregon cops say."