Fifteen men were arrested during a New Jersey funeral, after allegedly defying the state’s ban on public gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic.
According to the NY Post, a funeral in Ocean County was the fourth time in as many days that Lakewood Police were called to respond to a prohibited public event.
Cops estimated about 60-70 people gathered to mourn and became agitated and unruly with officers who tried to disperse the crowd.
“This gathering was in violation of (Gov. Phil Murphy’s executive order), which bans gatherings of individuals, whether they be at weddings, parties, celebrations, or other social events including funerals,” a joint statement from Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer and Lakewood Police Chief Gregory Meyer said.
“As officers tried to disperse the crowd, the crowd became unruly and argumentative,” they added about the incident at Eighth Street and Madison Avenue, near a Jewish temple and cemetery.
Officers called for back up to assist in the arrests of the 15 men for violating the order.
