Plainfield Woman Coughed On Cops, Said She Had Coronavirus: AG

DUNELLEN, NJ — The top law enforcement officer in the state is taking those who threaten police officers with coronavirus/covid-19 very seriously, and warned that those who do it will face maximum criminal charges.

As of Sunday, 288 members of New Jersey law enforcement have tested positive for covid-19, but that number has likely increased since then. These are police officers from all the different towns across New Jersey, not just State Police.

On Wednesday of this week, New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal announced a round-up of recent alleged bad behavior towards police in this time of crisis:

• Police say that during a March 16 motor vehicle stop in Dunellen, Jennifer Burgess, 35, of Plainfield, attempted to elude police and deliberately coughed on an officer, telling the officer that she had the coronavirus.
• Police say on March 21 David Haley, 52, of Perth Amboy, spit on Perth Amboy officers who responded to a domestic violence call. He claimed to be infected with the coronavirus.
• Police say on March 25 Raymond Ricciardi, 51, of New Providence, during a domestic violence incident, allegedly claimed he had the coronavirus and purposely coughed at police and medics.
• Police say on March 14 Marina Bishara-Rhone, 25, of River Edge, was involved in a domestic violence incident and allegedly coughed directly on a responding officer, claiming that she had the coronavirus and hoped he was now infected.
• Police say on March 19 Kenneth Wideman Jr., 30, of Flemington, was arrested and he allegedly yelled in the faces of police officers and actively coughed and spit at them, claiming to have the coronavirus. He refused police commands that he wear a mask.
• Police say on March 27 Vanessa Shaaraway, 35 of Kearny, was approached by police for suspected shoplifting. She fled and refused commands to stop, and when she was caught by two officers, she purposefully coughed on them and claimed that she was infected with covid-19, allege police.

All six people will have "enhanced criminal charges" brought against them.

In four of the cases, a charge has been added: Making terroristic threats during a state of emergency, a second-degree crime.

All six of the people arrested were also charged with fourth-degree aggravated assault on an officer.

“We take all assaults on police officers seriously, but it is especially heinous for someone to spit or cough at an officer in an attempt to infect or threaten to infect them with COVID-19,” said the AG.

"Anyone who uses the virus as a weapon against an officer will face a swift law enforcement response," said Colonel Patrick Callahan of the New Jersey State Police.

If you are seeing a lack of compliance with Governor Murphy’s emergency orders in your town, please contact your local police department or report here https://covid19.nj.gov/violation.

Read: 288 In NJ Law Enforcement Positive For Coronavirus (March 29)

Carteret Man Said He Had Coronavirus To Get Out Of DWI: AG (March 30)