Despite warnings to the public about limiting gatherings to under 50 people, Lakewood police say they continue to deal with residents who are not adhering to the regulations instituted by Gov. Phil Murphy on Monday.

The violations began earlier this week when two weddings in Lakewood were broken up by police, and they’ve continued despite stern warnings.

On Tuesday, officers responded to the separate celebrations — one at Fountain Ballroom on Vassar Avenue and the other at Lake Terrace on Oak Street — around 8 p.m. and told venue staff that gatherings of more than 50 people were prohibited, Lakewood Capt. Gregory Staffordsmith said. The workers and attendees then dispersed, he said.

But the problems did not stop there.

“So far we have responded to approximately 17 calls for service directly relating to violations of his mitigation strategies,” Staffordsmith said on Friday. “We want the public to know that we have heard and share their concerns regarding gatherings of more than fifty people and have taken action against those who have failed to comply.”

He said officers were called to a home on Oliver Court on Thursday evening after a large crowd sparked a flurry of calls from concerned residents. Responders were able to disperse the crowd as “quickly as possible in an effort to limit exposure to all involved,” Staffordsmith said.

Police later charged the homeowner with maintaining a public nuisance and was given an April court date, he said. The Lakewood Township Inspections Department also determined the location to be unsafe.

On Friday morning, police learned of another pop-up wedding venue at a house on Spruce Street that resulted in the 49-year-old homeowner also being charged with maintaining a nuisance after officers found a gathering of more than 50 people, authorities said.

The department also received a “flood” of notifications about a dormitory in the 800 block of West Kennedy Boulevard that did not vacate its students, Staffordsmith said.

“At this time our priority is to get these students back to their families as quickly and safely as possible,” he said. "We are currently working closely with local liaisons and school officials to expedite this and the number of students remaining is reported to be less than 50 at this time and all are expected to be removed by (Friday) evening."

An officer will remain on the scene until the situation is concluded, with the help of the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency.

“The Lakewood Police is asking that its citizens be responsible and obey the directives set forth by the State of New Jersey for the safety and health of all,” Staffordsmith said. “Those that choose not to will be subject to criminal prosecution.”

The number of individuals testing positive for COVID-19 in Lakewood jumped Thursday to 26 from just four a day earlier, but no new cases were announced Friday.

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Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrisrsheldon Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips.