GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — A nail salon employee faces felony charges after a mother says she was locked inside the business with her two young children Sunday.
Selena Stevenson says she brought her 1-year-old daughter and 8-year-old son to Modern Nail Bar on Buford Drive that afternoon. When her daughter became fussy during the appointment, Stevenson says an employee grew frustrated.
“I wasn’t just letting her cry, but I was holding her, holding her, and I could tell that the lady was getting aggravated,” Stevenson told Channel 2 Gwinnett County Bureau Chief Matt Johnson.
According to Stevenson, the employee added an extra $20 to her bill and then told her to leave when questioned about it.
“She said, well, I was sitting here with you for two hours and if you don’t like my price, you can leave,” Stevenson said.
Stevenson, a single mother, says as she gathered her children, her son walked toward the door. That’s when the employee grabbed him, according to Stevenson.
“She grabs him by, I can say by his left arm from the back and kind of pulled him back into the shop and locked the door,” Stevenson said.
Stevenson says other customers were inside the salon at the time. She called 911 as she waited inside for 5-10 minutes before they were let out and waited for police, she said.
Video Stevenson recorded on her phone shows officers arresting the employee hours later.
Police charged 41-year-old Nancy Nguyen with felony false imprisonment.
Stevenson says she paid her $178 bill before the arrest.
“Even if it was the case where somebody didn’t want to pay for service, that’s still not something right to do,” Stevenson said.
Stevenson says the incident particularly bothered her son.
“It is a little traumatizing too, because he don’t be wanting to go nowhere no more,” Stevenson said.
She has a message for other parents.
“You just be mindful what businesses you do support and don’t bring your kids to every business,” Stevenson said.
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