Read the documents: McHenry County Health Department sends Crystal Lake Health Foods cease-and-desist letter, store responds in kind

Crystal Lake Health Foods became the first McHenry County business to be charged with disobeying COVID-19 rules, but before that happened, multiple inspections occurred and cease-and-desist letters were exchanged, records show.

The business is set to appear in court Thursday.

The McHenry County Department of Health sent a cease-and-desist letter July 6, informing the business that if it continued to violate the governor’s orders, specifically not following social distancing or wearing face masks, it could have its health permit suspended and legal action taken against it.

An attorney for Crystal Lake Health Foods responded on July 8, asking that health department officials never contact the business again “unless such measures are expressly provided for by law” and arguing that the health department does not have the authority to close the store in this case.