Retired Bergen County Sheriff's Officer Struggles With Man Who Brought A Knife Into A Chuck-E-Cheese: Police

A retired Bergen County Sheriff officer struggled with a man who brought a knife into a Chuck-E-Cheese restaurant Saturday night, police said.

Officers Brian Bradford and Mark Ciavirella responded to the restaurant on Route 23 South at 7 p.m. on a report of a man with a knife inside the restaurant. When they arrived, they learned that the incident escalated into a physical fight for control of a knife, Capt. Laurence Martin said.

Police learned that James Burgess, the retired officer, saw a man stumbling outside the restaurant, Martin said. The man, identified as Anthony Campagna, 51 was holding an eight-inch knife.

Burgess confronted Campagna after he entered the restaurant, telling him he couldn’t bring ”that weapon” inside. Burgress, along with another patrons, struggled with Campagna for the knife, police said.

Burgess was injured on his right hand and refused medical treatment; Campagna was transported to Wayne Police Headquarters and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and disorderly conduct, authorities said. He was transported to the Passaic County Jail on $25,000 bail.

“Thank goodness the retired sheriff’s officer intervened,” Marin said. “We are not sure what the suspect’s intentions were, but clearly the retired officer acted in the best interest of public safety.”