Coronavirus: Michigan woman attacked grocery store employee, spit on officers, police say

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

A Michigan woman is accused of assaulting a grocery store employee and spitting on police officers after she was asked to leave because she was not wearing a mask, authorities said.

Kristin Hoff, 33, of Roseville, was charged with felony count of assaulting, resisting or obstructing a police officer, and misdemeanor charges of assault or assault and battery and refusing to be fingerprinted, the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

Hoff unsuccessfully ran for mayor of Roseville in 2017, the Detroit Free Press reported.

According to police, Hoff entered a Nino Salvaggio grocery store in St. Clair Shores on April 26 without wearing a mask, WDIV reported. An employee asked Hoff to leave because she was not in compliance with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's executive order, signed April 24, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Macomb Daily reported.

According to police, Hoff assaulted the employees, and when police arrived she attacked and spat on the officers, the newspaper reported.

“During this unprecedented time, we know tensions are running high. Patience and understanding are greatly encouraged as we all try our best to acclimate to the new and often-changing expectations," Acting Macomb County Prosecutor Jean Cloud said in a statement. “However, the repeated inappropriate behavior of this suspect cannot be tolerated. This suspect’s repeated actions clearly demonstrated a willful disregard of the safety of those around her."

Hoff was arraigned April 27 and was released four days later after posting $500 bail, the Free Press reported. A probable cause conference is scheduled for Friday, the newspaper reported.

Hoff's court-appointed attorney, Alan Saoud, declined to comment, the Macomb Daily reported.

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