The Holly Ridge Police Department was under hot water between May and June.
On May 7, officers were accused of raiding Snap Fitness Holly Ridge during Gov. Roy Cooper s executive order which closed certain commercial activity in response to the pandemic. The gym s owner Nick Koumalatsos posted information as well as photos and videos on his business and personal social media pages explaining his concerns about the officer s actions.
Captain Ewan Richards was the department s point of contact on the day Koumalatsos referred to as the raid. Chief Keith Whaley also spoke with Koumalatsos, initially taking back the original citation for having his gym open during the state s shutdown, after the gym was proved to not have received the proper warnings before hand. Snap Fitness was later shut down again for reopening several days later.