Occupied Lakewood Yeshiva, Weddings Amid Coronavirus Spark Anger

LAKEWOOD, NJ — Gov. Phil Murphy had ordered to close all schools amid the outbreak of the new coronavirus, police said. But there were still students at a Lakewood yeshiva this week in an apparent defiance of the order, many of whom were eventually sent home.

And that's not the only time members of the community allegedly violated the state's new orders connected to the coronavirus outbreak this week, police said.

At least two summonses have been issued and the department has responded to 17 calls since Tuesday evening, when Murphy banned gatherings of 50 people or more, Lakewood Capt. Gregory Staffordsmith said.

There were 26 of cases of the coronavirus reported in Lakewood through Friday, the Ocean County Health Department said in its update Friday evening. State health officials on Friday afternoon said there have been 890 cases reported across the state, with 11 deaths. Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

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But the repeated violations in Lakewood of the state's restrictions, which aim to slow the spread of the coronavirus, have sparked outrage and an avalanche of phone calls and emails demanding the something be done, Staffordsmith said.

"We want the public to know that we have heard and share their concerns regarding gatherings of more than 50 people and have taken action against those who have failed to comply," he said.

Murphy also said he's "damned unhappy" about reports that people in Lakewood have allegedly violated his "stay-at-home" order. His administration has directed deputy generals and prosecutors to be on call 24/7, and to be ready to deal with potential violators. Read more: Gov. Murphy Announces NJ 'Stay-At-Home' Order Due To Coronavirus

"We are really damned unhappy and we're going to take action," Murphy said. "We don't win a war by putting your feet up. You win it because everybody rows the boat together."

The yeshiva has sparked the greatest outrage.

Photos of students at Mesivta of Lakewood, on West Kennedy Boulevard, in a report by Vos Iz Neias, a news site that focuses on the Jewish community, circulated on Thursday evening.

The report set off "a flood of notifications," police said, and police spent the day working with school officials and community liaisons to get the students at the yeshiva "back to their families as quickly and safely as possible."

Though the Vos Iz Neias report said there were as many as 150 people at the yeshiva, Staffordsmith said the number of students remaining as of Friday afternoon was reported to be fewer than 50.

"All are expected to be removed by this evening," he said. "In addition, we have contacted our counterparts at the New Jersey (Department of Child) Protection and Permanency. An officer is and will remain on scene until this is concluded."

On Monday Murphy announced that all New Jersey schools, public and private, were ordered to close as of Wednesday. Read more: NJ Schools Will Close Due To Coronavirus Outbreak: Gov. Murphy

Staffordsmith said Lakewood authorities would follow up with the state child protection officials "to determine if there is any criminal culpability in the coming days."

Weddings have been an ongoing problem, Staffordsmith said. Police broke up two weddings in the township on Tuesday night, each of which exceeded 50 people. Read more: Police Break Up 2 Lakewood Weddings For Exceeding 50-Person Limit

He said the owners and staff at Lake Terrace and the Fountain Ballroom were told to shut down since that time. But other venues popped up.

On Thursday evening, a large crowd at a home on Oliver Court sparked a flurry of notifications from concerned citizens. The group was dispersed, and on Friday the homeowner, Shaul Kuperwasser, 43, was charged with maintaining a public nuisance. In addition, the Lakewood Township Inspections Department determined the location to be unsafe.

On Friday morning police learned of another pop-up wedding venue at a Spruce Street home; the homeowner, Eliyohu Zaks, 49, was charged with maintaining a nuisance after officers found a gathering of more than 50 people. That crowd was dispersed.

Both Kuperwasser and Zaks have pending court dates, Staffordsmith said.

In the wake of the weddings broken up Tuesday and the school closings on Wednesday, a flurry of tweets Wednesday night and early Thursday from the Lakewood Scoop shared admonishments from community leaders to stop holding gatherings of any kind, and said there were "dozens of cases." Halls across the township closed on Wednesday, and the Lakewood Scoop reported the police department would be issuing summonses to anyone who does not comply.

On Thursday, Murphy addressed the issue of people across the state continuing to ignore the warnings about large gatherings.

"It is time to cut the crap," Murphy said. "We simply cannot have this, whether it's weddings, funerals, baptisms. ... It has to be enforced and it will be enforced aggressively."

On Friday, Murphy said the state was set to tighten the screws to get people to comply with social distancing.

"It's not because we're trying to be jerks," Murphy said. "It's because we're trying to lessen the stress on the health care system."

Staffordsmith said the virus "has presented its own unprecedented challenges to law enforcement this week. However, the Lakewood Police Department, along with our local, county, and state counterparts, have adapted and will continue to provide the best service we can in the safest manner possible for all parties."

"We encourage everyone to engage in behavior that will help prevent its spread," Staffordsmith said, including washing hands, avoiding people who are known to be sick, and staying home if sick. "Practice SOCIAL DISTANCING.

"The Lakewood Police are asking that its citizens be responsible and obey the directives set forth by the State of New Jersey for the safety and health of all. Those who choose not to will be subject to criminal prosecution," Staffordsmith said.

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