Suspect Barricade Near South Jersey School, Daycare Ends In Arrest: PD

FRANKLINVILLE, NJ — SWAT personnel safely arrested a suspect who barricaded himself Wednesday inside a Franklinville home near an elementary school and daycare, police said.

The suspect — wanted on weapons and aggressive-assault charges — had barricaded himself in a Sheridan Avenue residence amid a search from law enforcement, authorities said.

Janvier Elementary School and a nearby daycare were placed in a "secure perimeter status" out of an abundance of caution during the investigation, according to the Franklin Township Police Department. School resource officers remained on-scene until the situation was resolved.

On Wednesday morning, authorities advised the public to stay away from Chew and Lincoln Avenues because of an active investigation. At about 11 a.m., township police said the suspect was in custody and there was no longer a public threat.

Police declined to publicly identify the suspect as of Wednesday afternoon "due to the nature of the incident," said Chief Matthew DeCesari.

The suspect was wanted for an incident that occurred Tuesday evening, officials said. At about 7 a.m. Wednesday, township police received word that he was around Lincoln and Chew Avenues.

Patrol officers checked the area and found the suspect's vehicle in a heavily wooded location near power lines, police said. Authorities learned that the suspect was potentially armed, so the Gloucester County SWAT Team was activated to assist.

The male wasn't inside the vehicle. But police later discovered he had barricaded himself inside a home on the 2300 block of Sheridan Avenue.

The SWAT team safely took the suspect into custody and turned him over to police to process his charges. He'll be placed in the Salem County Jail, pending a detention hearing.