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

BERNARDSVILLE, NJ — The Somerset County Grand Jury returned an indictment against a Bernardsville man who attacked a woman at his home, 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.

The indictment charges James Tyrone, 47, formerly of Old Wood Road, Bernardsville with one count each of 2nd Degree Possession of a Firearm for an Unlawful Purpose, 2nd Degree Aggravated Assault, 3rd Degree Aggravated Assault, 3rd Degree Terroristic Threats, 2nd Degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child, two counts of 3rd Degree Criminal Restraint and three counts of 4th Degree Aggravated Assault.

The incident occurred on Mother's Day morning, May 8 around 2:09 a.m., when Bernardsville Police received a 9-1-1 call about an assault in progress at an Old Wood Road residence.

When Bernardsville Police Sergeant Jon-Paul Tay and Patrolman Robert Schlittler got to the home they found a 42 year old female who was bleeding from a head wound. Tyrone had allegedly assaulted the woman while inside the home by striking her in the head with the butt of a handgun, according to the prosecutor's report.

After the victim was able to flee the residence, the officers encountered defendant Tyrone, who aimed a handgun at Sgt. Tay.

After the woman fled the home, 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 victim 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.

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.

The case was presented to the Grand Jury by Acting Chief Assistant Prosecutor Robert Hawkes.