Parsippany Dog Groomer Charged After Not Shutting Down Business

ROCKAWAY, NJ - A 61-year-old Parsippany woman was charged with violating the emergency order on business closures caused by the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, according to the Rockaway Borough Police Department.

On Saturday, police had gave Rita Lacis a warning after they learned that she was continuing to operate her dog grooming service, authorities said. When confronted by the officers, Lacis claimed that she misunderstood the order requiring closure of all non-essential businesses, police said.

A short time after that conversation, police saw two customers drop off a dog in defiance of the order, authorities said.

Lacis was then charged, police said.

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