Hanover Township, NJ – A suspected drunk driver intentionally coughed on Hanover police officers and told them she had the coronavirus.

The incident occurred on March 12 when Hanover police stopped 28-year-old Lea Piazza of Wayne on suspicion that she was driving while intoxicated, the Morris Daily Voice reported.

Police administered a field sobriety test to Piazza at the scene and she failed.

So officers arrested her, the Morris Daily Voice reported.

Police said that as officers were processing Piazza, she began purposely coughing on Hanover Police Officer Erick Magley.

Officer Magley asked Piazza to cover her mouth and stop coughing on him, the Morris Daily Voice reported.

“Oh, by the way, I have the coronavirus and so do you now,” Piazza replied, according to the police.

Police said that woman claimed her boyfriend, who was from New York, had the novel coronavirus, the Morris Daily Voice reported.

The police department said that three officers who were exposed to Piazza had to be put under quarantine.

According to charging documents, Piazza’s claims about the virus were later determined to be “100 percent false,” the Morris Daily Voice reported.

Once confronted, police said Piazza admitted that she lied about having coronavirus.

She was charged with DWI, causing a false public alarm, and multiple motor vehicle offenses, the Morris Daily Voice reported.

Piazza was released from custody until her scheduled court appearance.