A drunk man wearing a hospital mask is accused of spitting on police officers and saying, “I hope you call catch coronavirus and die,” Wharton police said.

Jonathan Cabrejos, 24, of Mount Arlington, was arrested late Sunday night after knocking on doors near the Wharton-Dover border. Police say he was decked out in hospital mask and gloves, and was drunk as he approached homes on Ford Avenue.

Police say they tried to find a friend or family member who could take Cabejos home. As officers were calling his contacts, Cabrejos allegedly started yelling curse words at the police officers, and tried to grab an officer’s phone out of his hands.

Cabrejos was placed under arrest for disorderly conduct, but police say he began kicking and spitting at officers from both Wharton and Dover.

“I hope you all catch coronavirus and die,” Cabrejos is accused of saying while kicking and yelling.

Cabrejos was charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and throwing bodily fluids at officers. He was released to a family member.

This is not the first time during the pandemic New Jersey residents have used the virus in their interactions with police. A Wayne woman was previously accused of coughing on police and lying about having the virus, and a Hazlet man lied about having the virus to avoid a traffic ticket.

As of Sunday night, 163 law enforcement officers have tested positive for coronavirus, State Police said. Another 1,272 are in quarantine.

New Jersey has 13,386 diagnosed cases as of Sunday afternoon, with at least 161 deaths.

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Katie Kausch may be reached at kkausch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KatieKausch. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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