State Police Say COVID-Positive Man Spat At Millburn Cops

MILLBURN, NJ — After Millburn police officers responded to a home recently, a COVID-positive man allegedly spat on an officer, state police Col. Pat Callahan said at Gov. Phil Murphy's press conference Monday.

[UPDATE: Millburn Police Clarify Case Of Man Who Allegedly Spat At Officers]

"Millburn police had responded to a domestic violence incident to a residence," Callahan said. "That subject resisted arrest and ultimately spit on the arresting officer and was covid positive, so the Essex County Prosecutor's Office is reviewing additional charges that are pending against that individual in addition to the EO [executive order] complaint."

Essex County Prosecutor's Office spokesperson Katherine Carter said Monday evening that ultimately, Millburn Police charged the man with third-degree aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer for the spitting, third-degree terrorist threats, and a disorderly persons obstruction.

A Millburn police spokesman said Wednesday that the domestic violence wasn't actually occurring at the Millburn home, but police visited the home for a welfare check related to a domestic violence incident in another town.

Captain David Bonney said that two officers were spat at, and that he can't comment on whether they tested positive or negative for covid, for confidentiality reasons. But he said they are "both fine and back to work."

He said the three charges were related to the suspect's actions toward the officers, not toward another person.

The matter came up during the press conference when Gov. Murphy asked Callahan about violations of the governor's executive orders regarding covid precautions.

Watch Millburn Patch for updates.

This is a developing story. Patch will have more information as it comes in.

You can watch the matter being discussed at 21:20:

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