JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Jacksonville business owner says she has received threats about her studio's mask policy that are so violent, she said she had to get the police involved.
Signs displayed outside Vintage Arts Decor Studio in Jacksonville clearly tell customers they need to wear a mask to come inside the store.
First Coast News cameras were rolling Sunday afternoon as Holly Donohoe, the store's owner, spoke to two Jacksonville Sheriff's officers to make a report of harassment and threats by a customer at her business.
“When he threatened to rape me and my other female employee, I called 911," Donohoe said.
Donohoe says the same customer set a notebook on fire and threw it against her door, in addition to setting her dumpster on fire in August.
“We’ve been terrorized by him since that incident, and we waited an hour and a half for the police to arrive today," Donohoe said.
It's not just one customer. Donohoe, who has a compromised immune system, says she deals with dozens of people getting violent and using foul language each day when she asks them to wear a mask.
“They’ve told me that they have every medical condition under the sun," Donohoe said. "They’ve told me they don’t want to be told what to do. They’ve told me they don’t want to shop here. They don’t ever want to shop here again that I’m the Wicked Witch of the West -- and that’s the PG stuff."
Jeff Robichaud is a loyal customer. He says even though he doesn't like wearing a mask, people should comply with a store's policy.
“Whether you believe in it or not, if you want to go out, be courteous of everybody around you," Robichaud said. "You don’t know what that person may be dealing with at a store or restaurant. Just be courteous, smile and wear a mask.”
JSO did not return our calls and emails for comment.