Police in New Jersey charged 15 people after breaking up a funeral with an estimated 60 to 70 attendees, despite large gatherings being banned in the state amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Police responded to a funeral held in Lakewood, N.J., on Wednesday night abouty 6:30 p.m., Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Lakewood Township Police Chief Gregory Meyer said in a Thursday statement from the county’s prosecutor’s office. Law enforcement officials said they found a group of about 60 to 70 people gathered at the funeral.

As police tried to disperse the crowd, several attendees became “unruly and argumentative,” according to the Thursday statement. Officers from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and the Ocean County Sheriff’s office were also called in to separate the crowd.

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New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D), signed an executive order late last month banning gatherings of individuals, including weddings, parties, celebrations or other social events, which includes funerals, amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

"The Governor has banned all public gatherings during this state and national public health emergency. This ban applies to everyone," Billhimer said in the statement. "To be blunt, ignoring the Governor's Order places lives at risk - not just the lives of everyday citizens, but the lives of our brave men and women in Law Enforcement who are required to respond in order to break up these unlawful gatherings.”

“I am imploring everyone to abide by the Governor's Order and stay at home, so that we might all get through this very difficult time together — as painlessly as possible,” he continued.

One man refused to identify himself to police during the incident, giving a fake name and Social Security number, according to the statement. Police said the man was arrested after multiple attempts to identify him.

Authorities said he was later identified as Samuel Manheim, 27, of Brooklyn, N.Y. He was charged with hindering his own apprehension, in addition to violating a rule or regulation adopted by the governor during a state of emergency.

The other 14 individuals arrested by police were charged with violating a rule or regulation adopted by the governor during a state of emergency.

A husband and wife in Lakewood, N.J., are facing multiple charges of child endangerment after throwing a bat mitzvah celebration with more than 40 people in their home, after the state banned gatherings of a few people or more.