Unhinged hardware store worker shoves customer with bat, throws punches after COVID-19 mask dispute: ‘That’s not customer service’

It would seem that social distancing wasn’t too high up on the COVID-19 protocol list for one Seattle hardware store worker caught on cellphone video shoving a customer with a bat and then throwing punches.

What are the details?

Bobby Dixon told KOMO-TV he and a friend entered Tweedy and Popp Hardware at Lake City to buy screws on Sunday. Dixon said he wore a mask but his friend didn’t, the station said, adding that signs posted on the front doors told customers that face coverings were required.

Dixon told KOMO that employees told his friend to mask up or leave — but his friend informed them he was fully vaccinated. The station said employees indicated mask-wearing was a store policy, and then things went downhill fast.

“It was a cussing match back and forth between them,” Dixon told KOMO.

The station said Dixon’s friend turned to go back outside, and Dixon headed for the cash register. But Dixon told KOMO that because the cashier was crude and offensive to him, as he was walking out he decided to stop, turn around, and head back to complain about the poor treatment.

“You work in customer service, and if you’re going to be rude, I’m going to take your name down and give it to your boss,” Dixon added to the station.

Then bat man showed up — which is when the video begins.

“You’re going to hit me with that bat? You taunt me with that bat?” Dixon is heard asking the bat-wielding employee, who ends up shoving Dixon out the door and punching him.

“It was actually quite terrifying,” Dixon told KOMO. “I’ve never had anybody come at me with a weapon like that, and it was flight or fight, and I was trying to get out of there, and he kept coming at me super aggressively.”

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