McPherson barbershop agrees to close until May 18, no charges sought against owner

A McPherson barbershop will remain closed until May 18. In exchange, a warrant for the owner's arrest and no charges will be filed against him.

Luke Aichele owns Luke's Barbershop. He reopened his doors when Kansas' stay-at-home order expired, but two weeks before the time outlined for barbershops and hair salons in Gov. Laura Kelly's phased-in reopening plan.

Aichele said his intention wasn't to go against the law but to get back to work.

"This whole essential and nonessential thing has created so much division in this country. One, between the working class, but also the people that are put in place to enforce it," said Aichele.

He said while not deemed so by the government, as the sole provider for his family, he is an essential worker.

"When you're in a business where you're self-employed and you can't get any unemployment and you can't work, I don't know what option people think that leaves people," he said.

If all goes as planned, hair salons and barbershops will be able to open next Monday under the governor's plan.

Aichele said he has no ill feelings against local law enforcement who issued the warrant against him last week, but he said current state guidance puts everyone in a bind.

"I know we have a good law enforcement here in McPherson, but unfortunately, everybody was put in a bad spot on this thing and I think that's because of poor organization and that's probably above all our heads as far as us at a local level," Aichele said.

Again, the barber said he will reopen his business on May 18.

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A McPherson barbershop owner will not go to jail, but he still may face court charges for reopening before the allotted time.

Luke Aichele owns Luke’s Barbershop. He opened the business last Monday even though salons and barbershops are prohibited doing so under Governor Laura Kelly's phased plan to reopen Kansas.

Aichele said authorities issued an arrest warrant for him and had planned to serve him on May 11. But late Saturday night, Aichele said the McPherson County Sheriff’s Office rescinded the warrant.

Aichele said he opened his shop early because he and his employees have not received any unemployment and need to provide for their families.

"We stayed closed from the time the Governor shut us down to May 4,” said Aichele. "I kind of felt like being a single-income provider for my household, that was as long as I could stay closed.”

Aichele said he's already depleted his savings and does not want to fall behind on bills.

"If you do anything and you provide for your family in that way, you're essential,” said Aichele. "I've got three people at home that would make a pretty strong argument that I'm essential.”

Aichele said earlier in the week, two officers walked into his shop and showed him an active warrant for his arrest. He was shocked.

"We're not trying to break any laws,” said Aichele. “Actually, as far as I know, I'm not breaking any laws. I have went against the Governor's order, but that's not breaking the law.”

Landon Wall also works at the barbershop. He served as a Marine and said he did not fight for his country to be told he is not allowed to work and provide for his family.

"The United States Military fought for your freedom and don't give that up," said Wall.

Aichele said the barbers in his shop wear masks and sanitize their hands between clients because they don't want to get anyone sick.

"Some hurtful things have been said on social media,” said Aichele. "We respect people in authority. We respect officers of the law whether it's the sheriff, police department, judicial system. It doesn't always mean that you have to agree with them. It doesn't mean that you can't raise a question of whether something is right or wrong.”

Eyewitness News reached out to the McPherson Police Department and City Attorney's Office and was told no statement would be provided at this time.