A Perth Amboy man is facing several charges after he allegedly spit on police officers and claimed he had the coronavirus.

David Haley, 52, was arrested March 21 after police responded to a domestic violence call and he allegedly spit on them.

Haley is charged with terroristic threats during a state of emergency (second degree), aggravated assault on an officer (fourth degree), throwing bodily fluid at an officer (fourth degree), and resisting arrest (disorderly persons offense).

Haley is also charged with simple assault/domestic violence.

Second-degree crimes carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000, while third-degree crimes carry a sentence of three to five years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000. Fourth-degree crimes carry a sentence of up to 18 months in prison and a $10,000 fine.

READ: Plainfield woman spit on Dunellen cops, said she had coronavirus: police

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Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said Wednesday his office has taken over prosecution of Haley's case and others who have been charged with spitting on police officers.

“We take all assaults on police officers seriously, but it is especially heinous for someone to spit or cough at an officer in an attempt to infect or threaten to infect them with COVID-19,” Grewal said. “Hundreds of officers across New Jersey are already infected with the virus, which, in many cases, they likely contracted by protecting and serving the public while on the frontlines of the battle against COVID-19. We have zero tolerance for anyone who uses the coronavirus as a weapon."

Email: mdeak@mycentraljersey.com

Mike Deak is a reporter for MyCentralJersey.com. To get unlimited access to his articles on Somerset and Hunterdon counties, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.