SWAT Stand Off, Barricade Leads To Capture Of Somerset County Fugitive

FRANKLIN, NJ — A fugitive wanted on numerous charges in Somerset County was captured after barricading himself in a house, a stand-off with SWAT members on Wednesday night.

Kenneth D. James, 34, of Lenox Place, Somerset, was named as the Somerset County Fugitive of the Month for June 2025 for fleeing before his sentencing on drug and gun charges, said Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald.

On Wednesday at around 7:50 p.m., the Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force Street Crimes Unit set up an undercover surveillance of a home on Lenox Place where James was known to live.

During the surveillance, undercover detectives saw James standing outside the home, approached him, and tried to put him under arrest.

When James saw the authorities, he immediately ran into the home, into an upstairs room, barricading himself, said McDonald.

The Narcotics Task Force and the Franklin Township Police set up a perimeter, and the Somerset County SWAT team and Crisis Negotiators were called.

At around 11 p.m., when negotiators could not contact James, SWAT team members went into the home and found that James was gone. A partially opened second-floor window and screen was also found.

Authorities used a drone and found a pair of slide sandals near the back of James’ home, near the fence. SWAT officers also saw an unoccupied home that is under construction/remodeling on Girard Avenue.

The back door of that home appeared to have been broken into, said McDonald.

At around 11:30 p.m., SWAT Officers went into the home and found James hiding on the first floor without any shoes.

James was placed under arrest and taken to the Somerset County Jail for lodging.

In addition, James was charged with second-degree burglary and fourth-degree resisting by flight.

Previous Arrest and Conviction

On Feb. 9, 2021, detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Organized Crime Narcotics Task Force tried to stop James on Girard Avenue in Franklin Township. Instead, he ran away to the back of another home where he hid a loaded nine-millimeter semiautomatic handgun on a basement windowsill, according to authorities.

James was arrested in the backyard and the gun was found.

A search of James' vehicle found around half a pound of marijuana and packaging materials.

James was convicted by the jury of firearms and narcotics offenses, as well as third-degree
resisting arrest by flight, third-degree hindering apprehension or prosecution, and fourth-degree possession of a large capacity magazine.

On May 22, 2025, following a two-week trial, a Somerset County jury convicted Kenneth James of all charges in connection with a firearms and narcotics investigation on Feb. 9, 2021, in Franklin Township.

James was convicted of second-degree certain persons not to have weapons, second-degree unlawful possession of a handgun, second-degree possession of a firearm during a CDS offense, and third-degree possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, among other offenses.

James, who failed to appear for the end of the trial and sentencing, is facing a mandatory minimum term of five years in New Jersey State Prison, five years to be served without parole, on the certain persons count alone.

James also faces 10 years in New Jersey State Prison on the second-degree charges.

After failing to appear for sentencing, James was named Fugitive of the Month for Somerset County in June 2025.

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