Assaults and Threats Against Police Officers, EMTs, or Others

  • Margaret O’Leary, 20, of Secaucus, N.J., was charged on May 12 with four counts of aggravated assault on a police officer (3rd degree), two counts of throwing bodily fluids (4th degree), resisting arrest (3rd degree), and disorderly persons offenses after an incident that began with a 911 hang-up call marked by screaming in the background. Upon their arrival at her home, Secaucus Police encountered what they described as an irate and combative O’Leary. She allegedly approached police and pulled at one officer’s vest, then allegedly kicked the same officer in the groin. When an ambulance arrived, O’Leary refused medical attention.At police headquarters, O’Leary reportedly became combative again. As police tried to transport her to an ambulance, she allegedly removed a spit guard and spit at an officer.Once in the ambulance, O’Leary allegedly removed a second spit guard and spit at another officer. In addition to the other charges, O’Leary was charged with refusing to be fingerprinted, a disorderly persons offense.
  • Sughuy Cepeda, 43, of Teaneck, N.J., was charged on May 11 by the Englewood Police Department with terroristic threats during an emergency (2nd degree), and contempt (disorderly persons offense). At approximately 1:00 a.m., Englewood Police were called to a disturbance at a residence, where they found Cepeda present despite a temporary restraining order prohibiting her from being there. She was arrested four times before for violating the TRO. Upon arrest and transport, Cepeda allegedly threatened to spit on the arresting officer. She has been charged twice before for claiming to have COVID-19 and either spitting or threatening to spit on officers: on April 4, when she was charged with second-degree terroristic threats during an emergency, among other charges, and on April 19, when she was charged with contempt.
  • David Hathaway, 61, of Newton, N.J., was arrested on May 9 by the Andover Township Police Department for DWI, throwing bodily fluids at a law enforcement officer (4th degree), resisting arrest (disorderly persons offense), and violating the emergency orders. When Hathaway was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, he allegedly resisted arrest and threw a facial covering containing blood and saliva at officers.

Other Criminal Charges Involving Indictable Offenses

  • Josefina Brito-Fernandez, 49, of Camden, N.J., was charged on May 14 with five counts of endangering the welfare of another (3rd degree and 4th degree). Brito was a home health aide who cared for an 80-year-old Camden city resident. On April 16, Brito was not feeling well and went to the Camden COVID-19 testing sight for testing. She allegedly did not disclose this fact to the elderly person for whom she cared, or the patient’s family. Once she was tested, Brito-Hernandez was told to self-isolate — even before her results came back — because she had been in contact with someone who was suspected to be positive for COVID-19 (and who ultimately was found to be positive). Notwithstanding the direction she received to self-isolate, Brito-Hernandez went to work on April 17 as usual and did not wear a face mask or any other personal protective equipment. (Her employer mandated that PPE be worn at all times.) Brito allegedly can be seen on in-home video caring for her elderly patient by feeding her, giving her a sponge bath and taking her vital signs – all while not wearing PPE. Brito also cared for two developmentally disabled siblings in the household, also without wearing PPE. The elderly patient and four other members of the household subsequently tested positive for COVID-19. The elderly patient was subsequently hospitalized and passed away several days later.