Bernardsville Man Guilty In Violent Mother's Day Stand-off: Prosecutor

BERNARDSVILLE, NJ — A Bernardsville man pleaded guilty to attacking a woman at his home, using his friend as a human shield and threatening to shoot himself and another during a stand-off with police on Mother's Day morning, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson announced.

James Tyrone, 47, of Old Wood Road, Bernardsville, pled guilty to 2nd degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, 2nd degree aggravated assault, 3rd degree aggravated assault, 4th degree aggravated assault (3 counts), 3rd degree terroristic threats, 3rd degree criminal restraint (2 counts) and 2nd degree endangering the welfare of a child on Friday, Feb. 3.

The incident occurred on Mother's Day morning, May 8 around 2:09 a.m. when Tyrone became angry with a 42 year old woman in the Old Wood Road home.

Tyrone allegedly got a handgun and told the woman that she was going to die that night. The victim was able to escape the room, but Tyrone chased after her while holding the handgun, according to the report.

The fled from the home and got into a car, but while she trying to exit the driveway, Tyrone hit the front passenger window with the gun and threatened to kill her. She then got out of the car while calling 9-1- 1 on her cell phone, according to the investigation.

Tyrone grabbed the phone away from her and threw it to the ground and then hit her in the head with the butt of the handgun causing injury to her forehead. Tyrone then ran back into the house while the victim waited outside for police.

When Bernardsville Police Sergeant Jon-Paul Tay and Patrolman Robert Schlittler got to the home they found the woman bleeding from a head wound, according to the prosecutor's report.

When police went inside the house they found Tyrone, who aimed a handgun at Sgt. Tay.

Tyrone grabbed his 39-year-old male friend who was visiting him and used him as a human shield while pointing the gun at both officers and his friend, according to the prosecutor's report.

Tyrone asked the officers to kill him and continued to threaten to shoot his friend and then himself, according to the report.

As Tyrone aimed the handgun at his friend’s chest, the friend was able to grab the gun from him, Robertson said.

The officers then grabbed the fully loaded Walther P99, 9mm handgun and arrested Tyrone.

The female victim was treated at the scene and transported to an area hospital for medical treatment of her head wound.

Detectives from the Bernardsville Police Department, the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Major Crimes Unit and the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Crime Scene Investigations and Forensics Unit responded to conduct the investigation. Additional patrol units from Far Hills, Bernards Township and Peapack-Gladstone also responded to assist at the scene.

Prosecutor Robertson commends Sergeant Tay and Patrolman Schlittler of the Bernardsville Police Department for their timely response and heroic actions that prevented any additional harm to the victims or themselves.

“These two officers were put in the most stressful situation an officer can face, an individual pointing a gun at them, and they are both to be commended for their actions and professionalism in bringing this incident to a peaceful conclusion. It is an example of all the great work that police officers do each and every day to protect our community and I thank them for their service," Robertson said.

In exchange for Tyrone's guilty plea, before the Honorable Robert B. Reed, P.J.Cr., the State is recommending a sentence of seven years in state prison, with 85 percent to be served without parole.

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

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here.