DEMOCRAT MAFIA (MI) STORM TROOPERS ARREST/SHACKLE RESTAURANT OWNER – ‘Tucker Carlson Tonight’ guest arrested days after appearing on the show! [VIDEO]

MLIVE.com | By John Agar | March 19, 2021

HOLLAND, MI – As the owner of Marlena’s Bistro & Pizzeria spent the day in jail Friday, supporters from around West Michigan blamed the heavy hand of government for trying to force her to follow unfair coronavirus guidelines.

Marlena Pavlos-Hackney, 55, has kept her restaurant on Holland’s southside open despite a November ban on indoor dining at restaurants – and allegedly refused to enforce use of masks and social distancing.

“One of the reasons that we were drawn to her particular restaurant, not just because she was local, but because she was standing up for her constitutional right to own and operate a business in the best way she saw fit, according to health guidelines,” Fennville resident Holly Shashaguay said Friday, March 19.

“It’s not Marlena’s responsibility to tell me to wear a mask. It’s my own responsibility, if I feel a mask is medically necessary. … She’s just drawing the line at the government telling her to rule someone else’s health.”

In a hearing last week on Zoom, a judge issued a bench warrant for Pavlos-Hackney’s arrest over the alleged violations of the state’s coronavirus orders. Michigan State Police told her to surrender by Thursday, March 18, but she refused. She was arrested in a traffic stop on Holland’s northside early Friday.

Aquilina said Pavlos-Hackney ignored state orders, which are intended to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The state earlier suspended her food license.

“We’re in the midst of a pandemic. You have selfishly not followed the orders,” the judge said.

Michigan Republicans, critical of restrictions set by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and later by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, also rapped state Attorney General Dana Nessel for initiating Pavlos-Hackney’s arrest – as well as Nessel’s refusal to investigate Whitmer’s handling of COVID-19 response in nursing homes.

“Nessel is eager to spend taxpayer-funded resources going after small business owners trying to stave off bankruptcy but refuses to investigate the deaths of thousands of nursing home residents potentially caused by her political-ally Gretchen Whitmer,” Ted Goodman, communications director of the Michigan Republican Party, said in a statement.

“It’s a massive abuse of power and shows what her priorities are.”

Nessel said in a statement: “This owner has continued to willfully violate the state’s food laws, public health orders and the order of the court – a dangerous act that may have exposed dozens of diners and employees to the virus following the discovery that one of Marlena’s customers tested positive for the virus within two days of eating there.”

A customer tested positive for COVID-19 after eating at Marlena’s Bistro on Feb. 27, the Allegan County Health Department reported.

On Friday, many faithful customers as well as newcomers – upset after hearing about the restauranteur’s arrest – had breakfast or lunch at Marlena’s Bistro as a show of support. The restaurant stayed busy until its 2 p.m. closing.

A man stopped by to donate to her legal fund as customers have done. A GoFundMe page had raised $75,000 for her legal defense as of late Friday afternoon. The original goal was $50,000 goal.

Ed Krasinski, 63, heard her story on the radio and stopped for Eggs Benedict. He said restrictions on schools and businesses have been too extreme. Those at Marlena’s Bistro, mostly without masks, felt safe, and should be able to decide such issues for themselves, he said.

“The damage it’s doing is not worth it.”

Several people who didn’t want to be identified said they strongly supported Pavlos-Hackney.

“We’ve got to keep our freedoms,” a woman said.

Another woman, a regular customer, said she showed up “because we believe what she’s doing is right.”

“COVID is only here?” she said, in Marlena’s parking lot.

“I think people should be free to make their own choices,” Bob Collins said. His wife said that those who fear they could contract the coronavirus should stay home.