Man Fired Nail Gun, Threw Knives At Cops In Linden Standoff: PD

LINDEN, NJ — A Linden man was charged after police say he threw knives and bricks and fired a nail gun at officers during a standoff on Sunday, authorities said.

The incident happened on Sunday around 4:30 p.m. when Linden police went to 36-year-old John P. Mooney's Furber Avenue home, where they found an adult woman who had minor injuries as a result of an alleged assault, acting Union County Prosecutor Lyndsay V. Ruotolo and Linden Police Chief David Hart jointly announced.

Mooney who was inside the home and refused to surrender, starting the standoff with police.

During the course of the standoff, police said Mooney punched out a front window of his home, set several household items on fire, threw objects such as bricks and knives at officers, and fired a nail gun at police, according to Ruotolo.

As a result, two police officers suffered injuries and an SUV parked in the home’s driveway was heavily damaged, Ruotolo said.

Mooney was later taken into custody without further incident at about 8:15 p.m. and was taken to a local medical facility for treatment and evaluation.

Mooney is charged with third-degree arson, third- and fourth-degree aggravated assault against a police officer, third- and fourth-degree weapons offenses, fourth-degree criminal mischief, and simple assault and unlawful criminal restraint, both disorderly persons offenses.

Mooney will remain in custody pending a first appearance and detention hearing to take place in Superior Court.

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