Secaucus Police Release Full Story On Man In Distress At Laurel Hill

SECAUCUS, NJ — A man who was having a mental health crisis was safely located by Secaucus Police just before 1 p.m. Friday, after the area around Hi-Tech High School and XChange apartments was placed on lockdown.

"The victim, who was having a mental health crisis, was located and is safe," said police.

Here is the full story from Secaucus Police:

At 9:31 a.m. Friday, Secaucus Police received a call from the Sussex County barracks of NJ State Police, stating they spoke with a concerned family member of a man who is suicidal.

His family had tracked his cell phone to the area of Penhorn Avenue, Turnpike Exit 15X in Secaucus.

Family members reported the man was possibly armed with a handgun/shotgun and wished to harm himself. Using his cell phone, the location of the man was narrowed to the marsh area near the Secaucus Junction Train Station/Laurel Hill Park, where a perimeter was immediately set so the man could be located.

At 9:45 a.m. his phone was believed to be stationary. It was at that time that Hudson County High Tech High School and Kiddie Academy daycare were informed to “shelter-in-place” due to the heavy police presence in the area. Helicopters were brought in, as well.

At 10:31 a.m. Secaucus Police Department Negotiator Detective Lieutenant Michael Torres was able to make telephone contact with the man. Torres was able to maintain phone contact with the man.

The Hudson County Regional Crisis Negotiation Team arrived to relieve Det. Lt. Torres. While speaking to the man, background noise could be heard that placed him in the Secaucus Junction train station. NJ Transit police officers ultimately located the man in the restroom of the train station and a search was negative for any weapons.

The man was taken to a medical facility.

Secaucus Police used drones, and NJ State Police used a helicopter in the search for the man.

Secaucus Police Chief Dennis Miller said "locating an individual in such a vast area is metaphorically similar to the needle in the haystack. It is a testament to the services all of these agencies provide and epitomizes the teamwork capabilities of our local law enforcement agencies to result in this individual receiving the assistance he needs. We also thank the community for remaining calm in light of recent current events."

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Starting at about 11 a.m. Friday, there was a large police presence in the area of Laurel Hill Park in Secaucus as police said they were "searching for a party who is in need of assistance."

Hi-Tech High School and also a private daycare are located in that area, and students and staff at both were told to stay inside and shelter in place.

A resident in the XChange apartment complex, also located near the park, said all residents were told to stay inside their apartments and lock their doors.

"They are going building to building to search for the suspect," the XChange complex wrote in an emergency alert email it sent to residents.

Residents at XChange reported seeing heavily armed Secaucus police officers or county SWAT teams search the entrance to the high school.