Anti-vax Bowral shop owners arrested, one charged after police assault

Two organic shop owners have been arrested after allegedly assaulting police when they refused to enforce mask-wearing inside their Southern Highlands store.

An organic store owner has been charged, his wife arrested and a customer fined after police allege the venue was breaching Covid mask restrictions in the Southern Highlands yesterday.

Video has captured police arresting Mark and Victoria Kleeberg in the Southern Highlands who were refusing to wear masks for “hygiene reasons”.

Local police arrived at The Organic Store Bowral on Bowral St, Bowral about 12:15pm on Thursday after complaints from residents about Public Health Order violations.

A man is seen being arrested in the video.

As well as a woman.

Police allege employees and customers were not wearing a face mask while inside the premises and spoke with the manager, 62-year-old Victoria Kleeberg, who said she wouldn’t follow the current orders.

Officers arrested her after she failed to provide her details, before a 61-year-old female customer entered the store, refusing to put on a mask or leave the venue.

Ms Kleeberg allegedly intervened, demanding police leave, and both women were arrested and taken outside, where Mark Kleeberg allegedly confronted officers, yelling at them before pulling down one officer’s mask.

The 63-year-old was also arrested and all three were taken to Southern Highlands Police Station.

Footage of the incident was posted online on the store’s Instagram account, showing police arresting both of the Kleebergs, understood to be husband and wife.

As onlookers filmed, officers wrestled with a handcuffed Ms Kleeberg, who struggled as they pushed her into a paddy wagon.

Mr Kleeberg confronted police, telling them they “cannot” arrest his wife, before an altercation occurred and he was pushed against the vehicle before being tackled to the ground.

The statement posted on the store’s Instagram account.

A statement from The Organic Store Bowral, alongside a variety of anti-vaxxer content on Instagram, alleged police had arrived to enforce the Public Health order as the owners had banned mask wearing inside.

“The police were called because the shop takes a stand against the mandatory mask mandates,” the post on Instagram read.

“Masks are unhygienic and in an open food store, (organic store) it isn’t safe.”

The Organic Store Bowral earlier asked customers who were vaccinated not to enter their premises.

“To protect our customers and each other, if you have had any vaccine in the past 14 days please do not enter,” a picture of a sign posted to Instagram read.

“For hygiene reasons no masks in store please.”

Mask use is mandatory in all indoor venues across NSW due to the current Public Health Order, with $200 fines for anyone not wearing a mask.

Video has captured police arresting two shop owners in the Southern Highlands who were refusing to wear masks for “hygiene reasons”. Source: Instagram

Mr Kleeberg was charged with assault officer in execution of duty, resist officer in execution of duty and incite to resist/hinder police officer in execution duty.

He was given conditional bail to appear at Moss Vale Local Court on Tuesday August 3.

The two women were released, with the 61 year-old customer given a $200 fine for not wearing a mask inside a retail business.

Police are continuing their inquiries into additional Public Health Order breaches.

NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys speaks to media in Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Joel Carrett

The Kleebergs and The Organic Store Bowral both declined to comment on Friday

NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys stood by the police action against the trio and said at Friday’s Covid update press conference the Kleebergs’ behaviour was “not on”.

“The excuse for not wearing was simply that they had no belief in the wearing of masks or the order, where they had no intention at all in complying with the order,” Dep Comm Worboys said.

“It’s not on, police took suitable action and went to that location as a result of community concern.”

He added: "We have seen police having to take action against people for breaching public health orders, whether that‘s in some of the most rural and remote parts of the state … we will continue to do that, whilst ever those public health orders are in existence.”