Salon Owner Charged With Working During Lockdown, Six Employees Unemployed

The Holland police department said the owner of a local hair salon has been charged with a crime for opening her business during the state’s stay-at-home order.

Holland Police Capt. Robert Buursma said the local prosecutor authorized criminal charges against Ardor and Grit Salon, which is owned by Sarah Huff.

The salon had employed six people, and Huff had closed it for two months under Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s executive order. She reopened it May 15 due to the fear she may lose the business if she did not.

The state’s licensing agency was in Huff’s salon on Thursday. The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs asked for a police officer to be present during its visits.

Police said they forwarded their investigation to the prosecutor on Tuesday. Buursma said he didn’t know the specific charges.

Lee Fisher, chief assistant prosecuting attorney in the Holland office of the Ottawa County Prosecutor’s Office, did not return a phone message seeking comment.

In the eight days from May 21 through May 29, Ottawa County has had 127 new confirmed cases and seven deaths linked to COVID-19. Ottawa County has a population of 291,830 as of 2019.