GRANT COUNTY — Complaints were filed against three businesses in Grant County over the weekend for alleged violation of the governor’s orders regarding essential businesses, according to the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.

The complaints, made against unspecified businesses in Soap Lake, Coulee City and George, all alleged that social distancing guidelines were not being followed, said Kyle Foreman, GCSO public information officer. In all cases, law enforcement educated business owners on the restrictions and received compliance, in accordance with state guidelines on responding to complaints. Businesses that continue to violate state mandates could face fines, revoked licenses or civil and criminal charges, according to the state attorney general’s office.

Over 15,000 such complaints have been filed with the state since Gov. Jay Inslee announced in late-March that the state would pursue noncompliant businesses and asked residents to submit complaints via an online form, Sheriff Tom Jones said in a Monday morning briefing.

The three filed in Grant County over the weekend are the county’s first, Foreman said. Local law enforcement agencies throughout the state, including several in Grant County, released statements shortly after the governor’s announcement stressing that their priority would be to educate violators, not to write tickets.