As coronavirus outbreak soars in lakewood, police break up another wedding

LAKEWOOD_Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on Thursday, March 26, 2020, members of the Lakewood Township Police Department were dispatched to a residence on Wayne Street for a report of a gathering of approximately 40 people. On March 21, 2020, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order No. 107, which bans gatherings of individuals, such as weddings, parties, celebrations, or other social events. The owner of the property William Katzenstein, age 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.

“We understand that everyone’s daily routine has been effected by the coronavirus and our State’s effort to isolate and contain the spread of this outbreak. It’s not easy. We understand how difficult it is change your way of living. We are all adapting as best we can. We all need to recognize the vital role we all have in flattening the curve of this outbreak. Stay home, practice social distancing and please be considerate of the risks our men and women in law enforcement are facing every day,” Prosecutor Billhimer stated.

“We at the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office support the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and are working hand and hand with local law enforcement in assuring people are compliant as it relates to people not gathering in large gatherings,” Sheriff Michael Mastronardy said. “We do not pick and chose how we enforce the law! Sheriff Mastronardy has dealt directly with citizens complaining about non-compliance issues and resolving many of them.”

None of the elected members of the Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders have commented on this.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.