YouTube ‘auditor’ provoked, pepper-sprayed shopper at Mountain View Costco, police say
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A group of “First Amendment auditors,” including Southern California YouTuber Richard Maza, has faced legal repercussions after a violent incident at a Mountain View Costco. Maza, 51, allegedly pepper-sprayed a man during a confrontation, motivated by the desire for views on his YouTube channel, “Freedom of the Press.” The victim has reported suffering significant and potentially permanent vision loss. Police documents indicate that Maza deliberately provoked the situation, with a history of filming confrontations for engagement rather than genuine concerns for safety.
On March 28, the victim, who was loading groceries, questioned the filming and suggested they find a better activity. This led to mocking remarks from the auditing group, escalating tensions. Feeling threatened, the victim attempted to retreat to his vehicle. After pushing Maza’s camera away in fright, Maza used pepper spray, resulting in the victim suffering a corneal abrasion and enduring painful vision issues since the incident.
Maza has been charged with aggravated assault and unauthorized use of tear gas, although he was released without bail. Mountain View police suggested that his actions were not self-defense but rather an effort to incite anger from bystanders for attention. Further analyses showed that Maza’s videos featuring such confrontations received significantly more views.
The injured man is preparing to file a lawsuit against Maza, alleging over $1 million in damages due to his eye injuries, which have affected his capacity to work. Meanwhile, Richard Troyan, another auditor from the group, is under investigation for a subsequent similar incident. Legal proceedings surrounding these cases are ongoing, with the next hearing for Maza scheduled for May 19.
