Woman Assaults Hackettstown Wawa Worker Over Mask: Police

HACKETTSTOWN, NJ - A scuffle over a face covering turned into an assault charge for a 23-year-old Bronx, NY, woman on Saturday, according to the Hackettstown Police Department.

Hackettstown police were called to the Wawa at 299 Mountain Ave. shortly after midnight after receiving a call on a disorderly woman, authorities said.

Their investigation determined that Ashanty Niang was not wearing a face covering when she was inside the store, police said. An employee asked Niang to cover her face which she did with her jacket, police said. The employee saw Niang taking her jacket down, uncovering her mouth and asked her to leave the store, police said.

In response, police said Niang slapped the employee in the face.

Niang was charged with violating executive order, simple assault, and disorderly conduct and has a pending court appearance.

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