A Secaucus man who killed his dog and threatened police during a seven-hour standoff with law enforcement Saturday evening into early Sunday morning was arrested without further incident, Police Chief Dennis Miller said.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
On Saturday, June 3rd at approximately 7:58 p.m., the Secaucus Police Department received a 911 call from a resident of The Harper, located at 100 Park Plaza Drive, Miller said in a statement.
The caller reported that her fiancée, a 29-year-old Secaucus man, was making irrational statements. A subsequent phone call was merged between the caller, the caller’s fiancée and Secaucus Police Department 911 operator.
During that phone call, the man made homicidal statements, authorities said.
Secaucus police officers were dispatched to the residence to check on the man’s well-being. Upon their knock on the apartment door, they were denied entry and the police officers were threatened to be harmed.
Additionally, it was further confirmed that the male was alone in the apartment with an Australian Sheppard dog.
Residents in the immediate area of the subject apartment were evacuated for their safety and the Hudson County Regional SWAT Team was activated along with a screener from the “Mobile Psychological Crisis Unit,” based out of the Jersey City Medical Center.
Over more than a seven-hour period, numerous attempts, through a variety of means, were made to negotiate with this male to no avail.
At about 2:18 a.m on Sunday, June 4th, members of the Hudson County Regional SWAT Team made entry into the apartment and took the man into custody.
Upon entry, it was discovered that at some point during the standoff, prior to law enforcement’s entry, the man killed the Australian Sheppard.
The man, who Miller said will not be identified due to the nature of this incident, was arrested and charged with terroristic threats and he was taken to the Jersey City Medical Center for a mental health evaluation.
This matter remains under investigation and additional charges may be forthcoming
“I am extremely proud of the decision making and the tact displayed by the 911 operator, the initial responding officers and supervisor, along with my Command Staff who also responded to the scene,” Miller added.
“Although I am extremely saddened for the resident for the loss of her dog, I will say that the patience and professionalism of members of the Secaucus Police Department and Hudson County Regional SWAT were the immediate cause that this incident ended with no injury to the subject, police personnel, or any civilian. I want to personally thank everyone who responded to this incident.”