'Want The 'Rona'?' Parsippany Man Coughed On Ex's Things: Cops

PARSIPPANY, NJ - A 39-year-old Parsippany man was charged with violating the state emergency orders after being caught on security footage coughing on his estranged wife's belongings.

Police were called about a domestic matter involving Nikolas Whitehill and his estranged wife. By court order, the wife has sole possession of their house, but Whitehill is permitted to enter the house on alternating dates, when the victim is not home, to feed their fish, police said.

The wife provided police with security footage from March 28 of Whitehill alone inside the house, where he was coughing on objects and touching objects, saying he had “the rona” and “Do you want the rona?”

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"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," said Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal. "Staying home and maintaining social distance isn't just the best advice to stay healthy, it's the law. Make no mistake, we will do everything in our power to keep our residents and officers safe, and that means we won't hesitate to file charges against violators."

Whitehill was charged with violating the emergency orders by Parsippany Police.

"Law enforcement and medical professionals are on the frontlines 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," said Colonel Patrick Callahan, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. "Because lives are at stake, enforcement action will be taken without hesitation against those who are blatantly placing the lives of others at risk."

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