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A Michigan barber reopened his shop this week in defiance of the governor’s executive orders amid the coronavirus pandemic — and says he plans to stay open despite a looming $1,000 fine, according to a new report.

“I’m not going to close up unless they handcuff me and carry me out of here,” Karl Manke told The Detroit News.

Manke, 77, reopened his shop on Main Street in Owosso Monday, flouting Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s orders issued in late March keeping non-essential businesses closed to limit the spread of the deadly bug, the outlet reported.

“I’m not trying to prove some point,” he told the paper. “I needed to get back to work.”

Customers filed in from other cities — creating lines outside as the barber worked 15-hour days, according to the report.

Manke said he wore a mask, washed his hands between cuts and used an ultraviolet sanitizer for his tools.

“I was in despair,” he told the outlet. “I don’t have anybody paying me unless I’m doing work.”

Manke decided to reopen because he wasn’t receiving his unemployment or stimulus payments and struggled to pay the bills, his wife, Carolyn Manke told the paper.

So far, the gamble is paying off, according to Carolyn, who said the last man Monday night paid $500 for his haircut.

Customer Jennifer Diegel who found the barbershop on the Facebook group “Michiganders Against Excessive Quarantine” and came with her husband and son Wednesday told the outlet Manke is a “true American patriot.”

“There’s probably 20 to 30 people outside and 10 to 15 people in here,” Diegel said. “They’re all social distancing and doing a great job.”

But Owosso police cited the barber Wednesday for a civil infraction and two misdemeanors, Lt. Eric Cherry told the outlet. A court date is set for June 23. The penalty is a fine of at least $1,000.

Manke said that won’t stop him.

“I’m making a living. If I have to spend it all on court costs, I’ll do it. I’ll recover,” he said.