A man police have dubbed the 'moronic macer' reportedly pepper sprayed a Costco manager after refusing to wear a mask in the store

• Police in Boston Heights, Ohio, are looking for a man they say pepper sprayed a Costco manager over the store's mask policy, Cleveland.com reported.
• The man had refused to wear a mask and was being escorted out of the store when he pepper sprayed the manager in the face, police said.
• Costco was one of the first major retailers to require masks in stores. Still, its stores have been the site of several violent encounters that have circulated widely on social media and in the news.

Police are searching for a man that witnesses say pepper sprayed a Costco manager over the store's mask policy, Cleveland.com reported.

The incident took place on Thursday in a Costco store in Boston Heights, Ohio, and was shared on a Facebook page by the police department of nearby town Bedford. The post referred to the suspect, a man dressed in all black and "cargo style tactical pants and tactical boots," as "the Moronic Macer."

According to Cleveland.com, the man had refused to wear a mask and was being escorted out by the store manager when he pepper sprayed the manager in the face. He then ran from the store, the news site said, citing police.

The Boston Heights Police Department did not immediately return Business Insider's requests for further comment.

Costco was one of the first major retailers to roll out a mask policy due to the coronavirus pandemic, making it mandatory for customers to wear face coverings in stores beginning in May. In Ohio, masks are required in public places.

Still, clashes between Costco employees and customers who refuse to wear masks — or between customers — have circulated widely on social media and on local news over the summer.

"We know some members may find this inconvenient or objectionable, but under the circumstances we believe the added safety is worth any inconvenience," Costco CEO Craig Jelinek said when the policy was announced in May.

Growing evidence shows that wearing a mask can help reduce the spread of the coronavirus. Still, masks have become a highly contentious issue in the US, sparking intense debate and sometimes violent encounters.