A New Jersey man coughed on a Wegmans employee on Tuesday, telling her he had the coronavirus.
What We Know:
- The staffer at the Manalapan grocery store worried that George Falcone was standing too close to her and an open display of food. He was asked to take a step back state Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said.
- Grewal advised that the 50-year-old allegedly came closer and “purposely” sprayed her with his germs. “He allegedly laughed and said he was infected with the coronavirus.”
- He then told two other employees that they were lucky to have jobs, Grewal included.
- Summonses were issued charging Falcone with making terroristic threats, obstruction of law and harassment. This will require him to appear in court at a later date. As a warning to others, Grewal stated anyone who tries to pull a similar stunt will also be charged.
- “These are extremely difficult times in which all of us are called upon to be considerate of each other— not to engage in intimidation and spread fear, as alleged in this case,” he said.
- “Just as we are cracking down on bias offenses and those who use the pandemic to fuel hatred and prejudice, we vow to respond swiftly and strongly whenever someone commits a criminal offense that uses the coronavirus to generate panic or discord.”
Falcone, of Freehold, didn’t return a request for comment.
