Paterson police broke up 3 group gatherings, charged 13 people for violating Covid-19 orders
By Jonathan Greene
Published: April 20, 2020
The police broke up three groups and charged 13 people in different parts of Paterson, according to authorities.
Police charged Luis Mojica, 34, John Rodriguez, 31, Ramon Rodriguez, 25, Kyle Joans, 20, Trindell Smith, 47, James Hart, 45, and Ernest Moss, 49, Foquir Melton, 22, Darren Johnson, 52, Devon Hobsen, 27, Jesus Hernandez, 65, Timothy Stefanovich, 43, and Jerome Ford, 64, all of Paterson, with violating emergency orders to curb the spread of the new coronavirus on Saturday.
Mojica, John Rodriguez, Ramon Rodriguez, and Joans allegedly gathered on Park Avenue without an essential purpose. They refused to disperse and were not practicing social distancing, authorities said.
Smith, Hart, and Moss allegedly gathered on Rosa Parks Boulevard without an essential purpose and refused to disperse, authorities said.
Melton, Johnson, Hobsen, Hernandez, Stefanovich, and Ford gathered in the corner of Main and Weiss streets without essential purpose. Police tried to disperse the crowd, but they refused to scatter.
All 13 face $1,000 penalty and six months in jail.