Officials on Wednesday announced charges in separate cases of New Jersey residents allegedly violating state orders put in place to combat the spread of the coronavirus in the state.
Gov. Phil Murphy has repeatedly told people to stay home, keep social distancing and follow his ban on gatherings as cases of the contagious virus continue to grow in the state. The governor recently dubbed violators members of the “knucklehead hall of shame.”
Among those facing charges was a 21-year-old Woodbine woman, Zharia N. Young, who was involved in a DWI crash in Maurice River Township Tuesday, authorities said. As she was being arrested by state police, Young allegedly became “belligerent and uncooperative” and coughed on the troopers while claiming she had COVID-19.
“She said she was ‘happy’ that she was infecting them with the virus,” the Attorney General’s Office said in a statement.
Young was charged with terroristic threats, aggravated assault on an officer and DWI.
In another case Tuesday, 26-year-old Christopher Williams, of Paterson, was charged with offenses including resisting arrest, contempt and obstruction, according to authorities. Police were trying to arrest Williams after a reported domestic dispute when he told officers he was infected with the virus as a way to avoid being taken into custody.
Police in Jersey City charged 49-year-old Bernadette Bisogno with simple assault, harassment and violating emergency orders for an April 3 incident at a Target store in the city, officials said. During an argument with a woman she knew, Bisogno “purposely sneezed on the victim, leaving saliva on her clothing and skin.”
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As part of the enforcement activity, authorities said they also found non-essential businesses operating. Newark police issued 34 summonses for violations of the emergency orders and closed three non-essential businesses Tuesday. Paterson authorities on Monday issued 40 summonses for similar violations and closed two non-essential businesses.
Paterson police on Monday found Deluxe Bubbles Car Wash open, in violation of the shut down order, and went to speak with the owner, according to officials. The owner’s son, Juan Ortiz, became aggressive with officers and refused to provide his information. Ortiz, 36, of Paterson, was charged with violating the emergency orders and resisting arrest.
Another non-essential business in Paterson, Buy and Save Furniture on Market Street, was found open on Sunday, authorities said. Feras Abudaya, 33, of Kinnelon, was charged twice with opening his store and ordered to close.
Police have also brought charges related to violating the governor’s emergency order in addition to other criminal offenses.
Shakir Scott, 20, of Newark, was charged with burglary and violating emergency orders after police said they found him entering three parked, unoccupied vehicles in Union.
In New Brunswick, authorities said Nathaniel Brown, 44, was charged with misusing the 911 system and violating the emergency orders on Monday. He allegedly called in a false report of a shooting on Quentin Avenue. Police said they found Brown outside and arrested the city resident.
Despite a ban on gatherings, authorities around the state continue to find people allegedly flouting the order. Kobe A. Kemp, 20, of Browns Mills was charged Monday with violating emergency orders for ignoring a prior warning from police to stay home. However, police said they found Kemp outside “causing a disturbance” with a group.
The state Attorney General’s Office began releasing daily reports with the names of people who were accused of breaking the emergency regulations around the state.
“Our police officers are working bravely and tirelessly every day to protect us during this health crisis. Regrettably, they are being called upon far too often to deal with people violating the emergency orders— or what is more egregious, people using the virus to spread fear or impede officers in their vital work,” Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said in a statement. “Staying home and maintaining social distance isn’t just the best advice to stay healthy, it’s the law.”
New Jersey has the second highest total of confirmed coronavirus cases in the country behind New York. There were at least 47,437 people infected as of Wednesday, according to the health department. At least 1,504 have died in the state.
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Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.