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

MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. — 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.

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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.

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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.

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

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“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."

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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.

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

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