Police arrest Amtrak passenger after mask dispute

Police arrested a man on Saturday who allegedly screamed profanities at a conductor on an Amtrak train after refusing to wear a mask.

James D. Allen, no address given, was charged with disorderly conduct and criminal trespass after Maricopa officers arrested him at the Amtrak station, 19427 N. John Wayne Pkwy.

Amtrak staff called Maricopa police about 11 a.m. to request assistance, reporting that two males would be escorted off the train for allegedly refusing to wear a federally-mandated face mask and creating a disturbance, according to a probable cause statement.

When officers arrived, the conductor told them the two males were asked four times to wear a mask before they started using profanity toward Amtrak staff. He wanted them removed from the train, police said.

After the conductor pointed out the two men, officers informed them why they were being taken off the train, police said.

Allen became upset and said he would not leave the train, police said. He allegedly would not stop yelling and using profanity while refusing to leave the property, the probable cause statement said.

He was booked into Pinal County Jail on the charges.

According to police, the second male was not arrested.