Man Who's Charged For Wielding Axe In Hoboken Station Is Jailed: NJ Transit

HOBOKEN, NJ — A man who allegedly threatened another man at the Hoboken train station with an axe last week has been taken to jail, an NJ Transit spokesperson said.

Spokesperson Jim Smith said Joseph Dietz, 45, of Hillsborough, was arrested on Wednesday, Oct. 25 and charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, aggravated assault (attempt to cause bodily injury with a deadly weapon), resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct.

He was processed and turned over to the Hudson County Correctional Facility, Smith said.

Last Wednesday, New Jersey Transit police said three officers were patrolling the terminal Wednesday when they heard cries for help coming from a waiting room in the main concourse. Police said they found a man wielding a camping-style axe.

"The suspect had the axe in hand and was aggressively advancing towards a fleeing man," police said.

Police said that the officers positioned themselves between the two men and asked the man to drop the axe. He refused the officers' commands, police alleged, prompting one to use pepper spray.

NJ Transit has identified the officers as Brian Rea, Joseph Ragazzo, and Randy Vargas.

Patch reporter Megan VerHelst contributed to this report.