Man Kills Dog After 7-Hour Standoff At The Harper In Secaucus: Police

SECAUCUS, NJ — A man locked himself in his apartment and killed his pet dog during a seven-hour standoff with Secaucus Police Saturday night at the Harper apartment complex, according to Secaucus Police Chief Dennis Miller.

It also caused one area of the Harper to be evacuated Saturday night.

The incident unfolded at 7:58 p.m. this past Saturday, when Secaucus Police received a 911 call from a woman who lives in the high-end apartment complex at 100 Park Plaza Drive:

The caller reported that her fiancée, a 29-year-old man, was making irrational statements. A subsequent phone call was merged between the caller, the caller’s fiancée and the Secaucus Police Department 911 operator. During that phone call, the man made homicidal statements, said police.

Secaucus Police officers were dispatched to the apartment to check on the man's well-being.

Upon their knock on the apartment door they were denied entry and he threatened to harm the police officers. It was further confirmed that the man was alone in the apartment with an Australian Shepherd dog.

Residents in the immediate area of that apartment were evacuated for their safety and the Hudson County Regional SWAT Team was activated, along with a screener from the “Mobile Psychological Crisis Unit,” based out of the Jersey City Medical Center. Over more than a seven-hour period, numerous attempts, through a variety of means, were made to negotiate with the man, said Chief Miller.

At 2:18 a.m., members of the Hudson County Regional SWAT Team made entry into the apartment and took the man into custody.

Upon entry, it was discovered that at some point during the standoff, prior to law enforcement’s entry, he killed the dog, said police. They did not say how he killed the dog.

The man, who will not be identified due to the nature of this incident, was arrested and charged with Terroristic Threats [2C:12-3b]. He was taken to the Jersey City Medical Center for a mental health evaluation. Additional charges may be forthcoming as the incident is further investigated.

“I am extremely proud of the decision making and the tact displayed by the 911 operator, the initial responding officers and supervisor, along with my Command Staff who also responded to the scene,” Chief Miller said. “Although I am extremely saddened for the resident for the loss of her dog, I will say that the patience and professionalism of members of the Secaucus Police Department and Hudson County Regional SWAT were the immediate cause that this incident ended with no injury to the subject, police personnel or any civilian. I want to personally thank everyone who responded to this incident.”