JASPER, Indiana — Police arrested a Jasper man for criminal trespassing after he refused to wear a mask at the city's municipal swimming pool Wednesday.
Eric C. Kreiger was charged with misdemeanor trespassing Thursday in Dubois Circuit Court.
Under Gov. Eric Holcomb’s current mask mandate, face coverings must be worn in outdoor settings where social distancing is not feasible.
Jasper officers were called to the pool around 4:30 p.m. because Kreiger was allegedly refusing to wear a face mask and wouldn’t leave the area when asked, according to WFIE.
"He just was being disgruntled and didn’t want to leave," Jasper Police Chief Nathan Schmitt told WFIE. "And ultimately after so many attempts, they had to take action."
Parks Department Director Ken Buck said, "We gave him every chance in the world to get a mask to get in."
Buck said masks are available at the pool for $1, and Kreiger refused to buy one.
Jail records indicate Krieger bonded out following his arrest.
Multiple local police agencies in Indiana have stated publicly that they would not enforce the mask mandate, but would address trespassing incidents if a business or property owner encountered a customer who refused to comply with their mask requirements and did not leave the property.
