Lakewood Police Break Up 40-Person Wedding, Homeowner Charged

The Lakewood, N.J. police shield.

Another incident involving a large social gathering in Lakewood was broken up by police, leaving one man facing criminal charges, authorities said Friday.

Lakewood police were dispatched to a residence on Wayne Street for a report of a gathering of approximately 40 people on Thursday, said Bryan Huntenberg, spokesman for the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.

The owner of the property, William Katzenstein, 39, of Lakewood, was issued a summons for “violating any rule or regulation adopted by the Governor in violation of APP.A. 9-49h.” Katzenstein received a future court date and the gathering was dispersed, officials said.

---

Get Brick News Updates Daily Your email address:* Please enter all required fields Correct invalid entries

On March 21, 2020, Gov. Phil Murphy signed Executive Order No. 107, which bans gatherings of individuals, such as weddings, parties, celebrations, or other social events.

Lakewood has had several such events broken up after organizers ignored the order. The township currently has the most cases of confirmed coronavirus in Ocean County, representing 198 of the county’s 468 cases.