3 South Jersey Residents Violated Stay-At-Home Orders: Police

A Camden man was arrested after he spit on three police officers and claimed he had coronavirus, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal and Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police, announced.

Anthony McKee, 31 of Camden, was charged on Monday by the Camden Police with spitting on officers and claiming he had the coronavirus after he was arrested in a domestic incident. While McKee was seated in the rear of a marked police vehicle and officers were attempting to speak to him through an open window, McKee spit on two officers and the vehicle, police said.

He said that he had the coronavirus and that the officers were going to get it, police said. McKee was transported to Cooper University Hospital for testing. While at the hospital, he spit on another police officer, police said. McKee is charged with two counts of second-degree terroristic threats during an emergency, two counts of fourth-degree throwing bodily fluid at an officer, fourth-degree criminal mischief, disorderly conduct and two violations of the emergency orders.

He was one of three South Jersey residents who were charged after violating Gov. Phil Murphy's orders to stay-at-home during the current outbreak of new coronavirus on Tuesday.

Louis Capelli Jr., 33 of Wenonah, was arrested on Monday, by the Harrison Township Police and charged with third-degree burglary, theft and violation of the emergency orders after police said he broke into a car.

Justin Gibson, 39 of Gibbstown, was charged on Monday by the Waterford Township Police with third-degree aggravated assault, third-degree terroristic threats, fourth-degree violation of a restraining order, and violating the emergency orders.

Police said Gibson went to the home of his ex-girlfriend in violation of a restraining order and fought with her new boyfriend. Police said he struck the man multiple times with a rock and with a rake. Gibson threatened to come back with a gun and shoot people, police said.

“Law enforcement and medical professionals are on the front lines of this battle to protect the citizens of New Jersey from the COVID-19 virus, and we cannot stress enough how important it is that each person follow the guidelines set forth in the Executive Order,” Callahan said. “Because lives are at stake, enforcement action will be taken without hesitation against those who are blatantly placing the lives of others at risk.”

Violations of the emergency orders constitute a disorderly persons offense carrying a potential sentence of up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. However, violators can potentially face criminal charges including second, third, and fourth degree indictable offenses.

Third-degree charges carry a sentence of three to five years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000, while fourth-degree charges carry a sentence of up to 18 months in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

Anyone who sees someone violating the governor's emergency orders in your town is asked to contact their local police department or report them here https://covid19.nj.gov/violation.

See related: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know