‘Knucklehead’ who coughed on Wegmans worker charged with terroristic threats, N.J. Gov. says

A Wegmans customer faces charges of terroristic threats and harassment after coughing on a worker at the grocery store chain’s Manalapan location and claiming he had the coronavirus, Gov. Phil Murphy said Tuesday.

The governor didn’t provide many details about the incident during his daily coronavirus briefing, other to say “it demonstrates active law enforcement” is ready to respond to people who violate orders put in place in reaction to the outbreak.

“There are knuckleheads out there. We see them and we are enforcing behavior," Murphy said during his briefing at Rutgers-Newark.

Hours later, authorities identified the man as George Falcone, 50, of Freehold. He was charged with terroristic threats, harassment and obstruction, they said.

Falcone was told by the employee he was standing too close to her and to an open display of prepared foods, according to the Office of the Attorney General. He then allegedly “stepped forward to within 3 feet of her, leaned toward her, and purposely coughed."

George Falcone, 50, of Freehold, is charged with making terroristic threats for allegedly coughing on a Wegmans employee in Manalapan and saying he had the coronovirus.(State of NJ photo)

Falcone also allegedly laughed and said was infected with the coronavirus, authorities said, adding, “Falcone subsequently told two other employees they are lucky to have jobs.”

The incident occurred at around 6:30 p.m. on Sunday.

The governor said the man was in an argument with the woman and then “coughed on the woman and told her after doing so that he had the coronavirus.”

The news comes as Murphy provided the latest spike in the number of people who tested positive for COVID-19 — the illness caused by the virus — including 17 new deaths, bringing the statewide total to at least 44 known deaths.

Acting State Police Superintendent Patrick Callahan couldn’t immediately say how many coronavirus-related arrests have been made in the state.

“We’re getting that information. It hasn’t been that high," Callahan said. "I heard of specific cases. And we will in relatively short order be able to give you a sense of what’s been charged.”

Murphy has put New Jersey into near-lockdown mode to combat the spread of the coronavirus, ordering nearly all of the state’s 9 million residents to stay at home and mandating that non-essential retail businesses be closed until further notice.

There are exceptions. You can still go outdoors for exercise and travel for necessary things, such as obtaining food or medicine, seeking medical attention, visiting family or others you have a “close personal relationship” with (such as “a caretaker or romantic partner”), or reporting to work for a business that is allowed to be open, according to the governor’s order.

Residents are able to file a complaint about price gouging on the state’s Division of Consumer Affairs website.