Coronavirus: Spa Manager Charged For Violating Stay-At-Home Order

CHARLOTTE, NC — Police have charged the manager of a Charlotte-area massage and day spa after she refused to shut down during the ongoing statewide stay-at-home order issued to slow the spread of novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper's a statewide stay-at-home" executive order went into effect March 30. The order is mandatory, and valid for 30 days through April 29, but could be revised or extended.

The statewide order means residents are directed to stay in their homes unless they need to leave for essential activities, such as for jobs, food, medicine, outdoor exercise or to help others, Cooper said. The order also bans gatherings of more than 10 people, and its directs residents stay at least 6 feet from each other. Essential services will be allowed to remain open, he said.

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"These are tough directives, but I need you to take them seriously," Cooper said in announcing the order.

A similar order has been in place for Mecklenburg County since March 26.

According to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, officers responded to the Cool Cave Day Spa, located at 5533 Monroe Road, Wednesday and advised Cheree-Alexia Hercule, 28, and her employees of their violation of the order "and encouraged them to voluntarily comply."

Several hours later, officers returned and the business was still operating as a massage and day spa. Officers again urged the workers to comply voluntarily with the order.

Thursday, officers returned to the business for a third time and determined it was still operating. Hercule was then charged for refusing to comply with the state's stay-at-home order.

"The CMPD is continuing to manage the order through voluntary compliance, but the department will enforce violations through citations and/or misdemeanor arrests if voluntary cooperation is not gained," CMPD said.

Police said that members of the community can report violations of the Stay at Home order through the CLT+ mobile app, online at www.cmpd.org, or by calling 3-1-1.

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