Security footage shows Target fight over face masks that left employee with broken arm, police say

Men confronted after allegedly refusing to wear coverings in store, authorities said

Two men are facing felony charges after a man was left with a broken arm in a fight that broke out over their refusal to wear face coverings inside a Target store, police say.

The two suspects entered a local store in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, without wearing masks at around 10.20am on 1 May, Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement.

Facial coverings are required to be worn by customers at grocery stores and many other essential businesses in line with Mayor Eric Garcetti's emergency order to protect essential workers.

The two men allegedly refused to wear a mask when confronted by employees and were subsequently escorted out of the store.

“As they approached the exit, one suspect, suddenly without provocation, turned and punched a store employee,” according to the police statement.

Both the suspect and the employee were reported to have fallen to the ground during the altercation causing an employee to break their left arm.

The security video of the incident appears to show one employee fall to the ground with one of the men while the other two employees wrestle with a second man.

The other suspect and another employee also fall to the ground before the fight is broken up.

Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics took the worker with a broken arm to hospital for treatment, police said.

Police said that 31-year-old Phillip Hamilton and 29-year-old Paul Hamilton, were arrested for felony battery in connection with the incident on the same day.

They were released from jail on $50,000 bail, police said.