Gloucester Twp. Police Subdue Man Who Threatened To Use Gun: Cops

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — Gloucester Township police used a taser to subdue a 55-year-old man who threatened his family members with a gun Tuesday afternoon and wanted officers to shoot him, police said.

Police responded to a call of a domestic dispute on the 100 block of Kohomo Avenue just before 1 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Gloucester Township Police Department.

The initial officers who showed up removed the family members from the home and set up a perimeter, police said. The neighbors were evacuated or sheltered in place.

The man barricaded himself in the home and pointed the muzzle of his gun at the officers, police said. The Gloucester Township Police Department Special Response Team (SRT) and Crisis Negotiations Team were called to the scene and attempted to make contact, police said.

Family members told officers he had a BB gun and wanted the officers to shoot him, police said.
After about 30 minutes, crisis negotiators were able to make contact, and the man left the house with the BB gun in his hand, police said. He screamed at the officers and continued to point the BB rifle towards the officers and was asking the officers to shoot him, police said.

He then walked into the street, and the SRT officers approached him in an Armored Rescue Vehicle. They ordered him to drop the gun, and used a taser to subdue him, police said. This allowed them to take him into custody without further injury to him or the officers, police said.

“All of the officers who responded performed with the utmost restraint and professionalism which resulted in a good outcome for the victims, the neighbors, and most of all the suspect who was clearly in crisis,” Gloucester Township Police Chief David Harkins said. “I couldn’t be prouder of these officers.”

The man was taken to o Jefferson Stratford hospital for a medical and crisis evaluation. Police said he will be charged with aggravated assault, child endangerment, possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.