Bernardsville Man Arrested After Violent Mother's Day Stand-off: Prosecutor

Bernardsville, NJ -- A Bernardsville man was arrested after he attacked a woman at his home, pointed a gun at police and then used his friend as a human shield as he threatened to shoot himself and his friend during a stand-off with police on Mother's Day morning, Acting Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson announced Monday.

Bernardsville Police responded to a 9-1-1 call reporting an assault in progress at James Tyrone's Old Wood Road home around 2:09 a.m. on Sunday, May 8.

When Bernardsville Police Sergeant Jon-Paul Tay and Patrolman Robert Schlittler arrived they found an injured 42-year-old female who was bleeding from a head wound, police reported.

When they attempted to remove the victim from the home, Tyrone, age 47, aimed a handgun at Sgt. Tay and then ran back into the house, police reported.

Tyrone then grabbed a 39-year-old male friend who was visiting him and used him as a "human shield" while pointing the gun at police and his friend, police said.

He asked police to "kill him" and then continued to threaten to shoot his friend and them himself, police reported. Tyrone was repeatedly asked to drop his weapon.

"After failing to drop the weapon, Tyrone aimed the handgun at his friend’s chest, and the victim was able to grab the gun from him," Robertson said.

Police grabbed the fully-loaded Walther P99, 9mm handgun arrested Tyrone.

He was charged with Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, second degree, Aggravated Assault, third degree, and Aggravated Assault, fourth degree, according to the prosecutor's release.

The female victim was treated at the scene and then transported to an area hospital for medical treatment.

Tyrone was transported to an area hospital for observation. The Honorable Kathy Qasim, J.S.C. set bail at $75,000 cash or bond with the condition that should Tyrone post bail he is not to have contact with the victims.

Detectives from the Bernardsville Police Department in conjunction with detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, and the Crime Scene Investigations and Forensics Unit responded to conduct the investigation.

Additional patrol units from Far Hills, Bernards Township, and Peapack-Gladstone responded to assist the officers at the scene.

"Faced with a deadly force encounter these officers demonstrated the utmost restraint and were able to successfully bring this event to a peaceful conclusion," Robertson said of Tay and Schlittler's response and actions at the scene.

(Photo, SCPO: James Tyrone, 47, Old Wood Road, Bernardsville)