Crime & Safety
Man Accused Of Faking Cough, Coronavirus Claim In Lakewood
Police say the man coughed and said he had the virus after store employee wouldn't sell him cigarettes.
LAKEWOOD, NJ — A Lakewood man is accused of coughing and telling a store clerk he had the new coronavirus when an employee refused to sell him cigarettes, police said Thursday.
Juan Gomez Sanchez, 25, of Lakewood, was charged with disorderly conduct after the incident on Wednesday, Lakewood Capt. Gregory Staffordsmith said.
He said police were called to the Pine Cone Liquor Store, 248 Second St., about 12:15 p.m. Officer Stephen Kowaleski responded, and as he headed to the store, he found Sanchez walking down Clifton Avenue.
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Kowaleski initially offered medical attention to Sanchez, but as he continued to investigate, he learned Sanchez was not ill and was only acting that way because of the cigarette sale refusal.
Sanchez was issued a criminal complaint and is expected to be in court next month, Staffordsmith said.
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