Pinellas County Sheriff’s deputies have arrested a Pinellas Park business owner accused of operating a nonessential business.
PINELLAS PARK, FL — Pinellas County Sheriff’s deputies have arrested a Pinellas Park business owner accused of violating the statewide safer-at-home order by keeping his business, categorized as nonessential, open.
Galen Trent Wood, 36, of 17th Avenue Southeast in St. Petersburg was arrested Thursday night and charged with operating a nonessential business and traveling to operate a nonessential business.
Pinellas County Sheriff’s deputies were conducting a nonessential business compliance check at Kitchen Table Games, 9600 66th St. N., Suite E, in Pinellas Park, after receiving numerous complaints that the business was violating the safer-at-home order intended to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Opened in 2014, Kitchen Table Games offers a place for board gamers to play and compete in games including Dungeons & Dragons, Yugioh, Pokemon, Magic and Dragon Ball.
Prior to his arrest, the sheriff’s office said deputies issued warnings to Wood on April 3, twice on April 7 and on April 10. Each time, deputies reported that Wood argued with them and refused to close his business.
During the compliance check on Thursday, deputies saw that the business was still open and watched employees interact with customers. They again gave Wood a warning but said he refused to shut his business down. They arrested him at 6:10 p.m.
Wood was transported to the Pinellas County Jail where his bond was set at $500. Wood was released after posting bail Friday.
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