Man Barricaded Himself With Two Children in Cape May County

A barricade situation involving an adult man and two juveniles ended safely early Tuesday morning, according to Cape May County Prosecutor Robert L. Taylor and Lower Township Police Chief William Mastriana.

Brian Ayres, 28, of the Villas, barricaded himself in his home with two juveniles of an unspecified age at around 1:29 a.m.

The Lower Township Police Department quickly responded to the scene and set up a perimeter around the home.

They then requested assistance from the Cape May County Regional SWAT Team, the County Crisis Negotiation Team, and the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office.

At about 4:30 a.m., Crisis Negotiators were successful in convincing Ayres to exit the home, at which time he was safely taken into custody without incident by members of the County SWAT Team.

Ayres was transported to the Cape Regional Medical Center to be evaluated.

The two juveniles also came out of the residence and were not injured.

Detectives from the Lower Township Police Department and the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office conducted a search of the home and allegedly found an air-soft pellet gun that resembled a semi automatic handgun.

Ayres was subsequently charged with second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, third-degree criminal restraint, fourth-degree aggravated assault, and fourth-degree certain persons not to possess a weapon.

Bail was set at $150,000 full cash and Ayres will be transferred to the Cape May County Correctional Facility after being released from the hospital.

Persons convicted of second degree crimes can be sentenced to 5-10 years in New Jersey State Prison, persons convicted of third degree crimes can be sentenced to 3-5 years in State Prison, and persons convicted of fourth degree crimes can serve up to 18 months.

Taylor commended the cooperative efforts between the members of the Lower Township Police Department, the County Prosecutor’s Office, the County SWAT Team and especially the County Crisis Negotiation Team who assisted in bringing this incident to a safe conclusion.