A Union City man is charged with being combative with Guttenberg police earlier this month, ultimately threatening to cough on them and infect them with COVID-19, New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Elvis Perez-Astacio, 25, of Union City, was charged by the Guttenberg Police Department with two counts of terroristic threats (3rd degree), simple assault (disorderly persons offense), resisting arrest (disorderly persons offense), possession of under 50 grams of marijuana (disorderly persons offense), being under the influence of marijuana (disorderly persons offense), failure to make lawful disposition of marijuana (disorderly persons offense), and violating the emergency orders on April 12th.
Police responded to a report of domestic violence allegedly committed by Perez-Astacio.
When police located Perez-Astacio, he allegedly resisted arrest and verbally threatened to harm an officer.
While being transported to police headquarters, Perez-Astacio allegedly said he would cough on the officers and infect them with COVID-19. He allegedly coughed throughout the trip to headquarters and while being processed.
“Our message to violators is that we will hold you accountable, whether it is through a summons for those who violate the social distancing orders, or an arrest on indictable charges for those who deliberately harm or threaten others during this emergency,” Grewal said in a statement.
Violations of the emergency orders constitute a disorderly persons offense carrying a potential sentence of up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
However, violators can potentially face criminal charges including second, third, and fourth degree indictable offenses.
