An Ocean Shores man said he was attacked for confronting two men for not wearing masks, and now he’s worried police are not properly investigating the case.
Daniel Troublefield, 43, said he was at the Ocean Shores IGA Sunday night when he called someone out for not wearing a mask. Inside the store, he said the conversation turned heated, But he thought that was the end of it. However, he was not expecting what happened once he walked outside.
“I curled up in the fetal position and I was just ready to die,” said Troublefield.
He shared this surveillance video with KIRO 7 News, which he got from the neighboring drug store. The video shows him in the parking lot walking out to his white car, but he walks past it as he was taunted by the maskless men.
“They kept berating me with expletives, calling me a snowflake and it’s not science, it’s a hoax,” Troublefield recalled.
Looking back, Daniel said he wishes he ignored them.
“To my regret I walked up to the car. I was trying to explain it is science and you should be wearing a mask because you’re endangering me and everyone else in the store by not having a mask on,” Troublefield said.
That’s when things escalated even further.
“The gentleman tapped on my chest. And I flipped up his hat, and that’s when they both got out of the car,” Troublefield explained.
The video’s quality isn’t great, but you can see someone is thrown to the ground.
“One grabbed me by the neck in a chokehold and got me down to the ground. And before I knew it, I was getting my face pummeled with fists,” Troublefield explained.
The beating lasted about 20 seconds. The men took off and now he’s worried they’re going to get away and he won’t get justice.
“I don’t feel the police are doing enough,” Troublefield said. “I’m in the dark right now about everything.”
Ocean Shores Police said the investigation is ongoing and they don’t know whether it was an assault or self-defense.
Troublefield, a disabled Marine veteran, said he never threw one punch and even passed out. His nose is now fractured, he’s had to get stitches, and he’s got bruises on his face and body.
“I’d like to see the two gentleman locked up in jail. I’d like for them to pay for what they did,” Troublefield said. “I don’t think any human being deserves to be treated like I was treated.”
Troublefield said this was the first time he’s ever confronted anyone for not wearing a mask. He said he was compelled to because both he and his wife have preexisting conditions. He said he’s frustrated that people aren’t taking the pandemic seriously and putting everyone else at risk. But he also said this will be the last time he’ll ever say anything again.