TRENTON, NJ — Attorney General Gurbir Grewal announced April 1 that the Attorney General’s Office has taken over prosecution of six cases and is filing upgraded charges against defendants who allegedly threatened police officers by spitting or coughing at them and claiming to have COVID-19.
“Last week, I said the time for warnings is over and those violating the COVID-19 emergency orders will face strong law enforcement action,” Grewal said. “Police all across New Jersey are making good on that vow by charging violators with crimes. Now, with the cases being announced today, we’re letting our dedicated officers know that we have their backs as they work tirelessly to maintain public safety and health at this difficult time.
“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,” Grewal added. “Hundreds of officers across New Jersey are already infected with the virus, which, in many cases, they likely contracted by protecting and serving the public while on the frontlines of the battle against COVID-19. We have zero tolerance for anyone who uses the coronavirus as a weapon or instrument of terror against officers bravely performing their duties during this health crisis.”
“Troopers and officers throughout the state do not have the ability to work from home or practice social distancing while protecting and serving the residents of New Jersey in the midst of this pandemic. Law enforcement comes with many risks, none of which do the men and women who wear a badge shy away from,” said Col. Patrick Callahan of the New Jersey State Police. “For a defendant to intentionally expose an officer to COVID-19 is not just an assault on that officer, it’s an assault on their family members, fellow officers and the general public. Anyone who uses the virus as a weapon against an officer will face a swift law enforcement response.”
“We have superseded these criminal cases to ensure that they are prioritized and consistently prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” said Director Veronica Allende of the Division of Criminal Justice. “We have upgraded the charges in four cases by adding a second-degree charge of making terroristic threats during a state of emergency, and in all cases we have charged fourth-degree aggravated assault on an officer. All six defendants now face both of those charges.”
Second-degree crimes carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000, while third-degree crimes carry a sentence of three to five years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000. Fourth-degree crimes carry a sentence of up to 18 months in prison and a $10,000 fine.
The following cases, which initially were charged by local police and county prosecutors, have been superseded for prosecution by the Division of Criminal Justice:
- David Haley, 52, of Perth Amboy, allegedly spit on Perth Amboy officers, who responded to a domestic violence call, on March 21. He claimed to be infected with the coronavirus.
- Raymond Ricciardi, 51, of New Providence, on March 25, during a domestic violence incident, allegedly claimed he had the coronavirus and purposely coughed at police and medics.
- Marina Bishara-Rhone, 25, of River Edge, was involved in a domestic violence incident on March 14 and allegedly coughed directly on a responding officer, claiming that she had the coronavirus and hoped he was now infected.
- Kenneth Wideman Jr., 30, of Flemington, during his arrest on March 19, 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.
- Vanessa Shaaraway, 35 of Kearny, allegedly fled from Belleville police on March 27 after they responded to a report of shoplifting. When she was caught by two officers, she purposefully coughed on them and claimed that she was infected with COVID-19.
- Jennifer Burgess, 35, of Plainfield, allegedly attempted to elude police and deliberately coughed on an officer, telling the officer that she had the coronavirus, during a motor vehicle stop on March 16 in Dunellen.
The charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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