Police Shut Down Bernardsville Shop's Facebook Live Video

BERNARDSVILLE, NJ — A live video captures Bernardsville Police shutting down a borough business for repeatedly violating Gov. Phil Murphy's executive order for having a non-essential business open during the coronavirus pandemic.

Katherine Hermes of Peapack and owner of Country Home Store at 21 Olcott Square can be heard on the video making an emotional plea to the officer. "I am just trying to save my business," Hermes says. "I am widow with three children who need to eat." (See below)

Hermes was making a Facebook Live video on Tuesday night to sell some of her products when Officer Tyler Demott came into the store at about 9 p.m. or about 1 hour and 56 minutes into the video.

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Demott tells Hermes on the video she is in violation of Murphy's order for operating her business past the 8 p.m. curfew and for her and her employee not wearing a mask.

"I am being totally picked on right now," Hermes says on the video. "You guys are picking on me because I am trying to feed my kids. My store has been closed, I had a little fresh air, I am not open. I am doing a live, I have done this time and time again, and now people are just picking on me."

Bernardsville Police Chief Kevin Valentine said the "police department has been monitoring all essential and non essential business operations in the borough for compliance with emergency executive orders. The members of the police department are sympathetic to the difficulties facing our community and officers try to solicit compliance with executive orders that are in place to protect the health and safety of all citizens. When a complaint is made we investigate it and take action."

Correction: The original photo posted with this story incorrectly showed the wrong business. The photo has since been removed and replaced.

Bernardsville Police were first alerted to the business' alleged violations on Saturday after they received two complaints reporting ongoing business operations at the store that were in violation of Murphy's order.

Officer Steven Seiple and Chief Kevin Valentine checked out the store and saw Hermes was in violation. A warning was given to Hermes and she was asked to shut down, Bernardsville Police Lt. John Remian said.

Hermes agreed to close but said she did not agree with the need for the restrictions. She also added she would begin virtual sales and curbside pickups in the future, Remian said.

On Tuesday at about 2:50 p.m. Detective Sergeant Daniel Buttel saw two customers leaving the back of the Country Home store after purchasing goods inside, Remian said.

Police contacted the Somerset County Prosecutors Office who charged Hermes with a disorderly persons offense specifically by "opening a non-essential retail store to the public in violation of paragraph 9A of Executive Order #142".

Later on Tuesday at 9 p.m., the Bernardsville Police Department received another complaint about the Country Home store being open. The caller specifically stated there were shoppers in the store, Remian said.

That is when police responded during the Facebook Live video. Hermes was not charged with any violations related to the live video event.

Valentine said "most businesses are cooperative and try to comply with the guidance provided in the executive orders. However, if we observe blatant violations in defiance of orders, especially after warnings are issued, the appropriate summonses will be issued."

Watch the police encounter below at 1 hour 56 minutes:

Hermes also issued a response video on Wednesday night after the police encounter:

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