Toms River Police Break Down Motel Door To Rescue Man

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A man was hospitalized in critical condition Thursday evening after police forced their way into his motel room to stop him from injuring himself, Toms River police said.

The man had barricaded himself in a room at Motel 6 on Route 37 when police were called about 10:20 a.m., said Jillian Messina, media relations specialist for the Toms River Police Department.

Officers tried to talk with the man and de-escalate the situation, but the negotiations were not successful and the man began cutting his throat with a box cutter/knife, Messina said.

"In effort to stop him from causing further harm to himself, officers forced entry into the room," Messina said. The man fought with officers as they arrested him, she said.

Because the man had extensive self-inflicted injuries, he was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center where he underwent surgery and was listed in critical but stable condition, she said.

In effort to stop him from causing further harm to himself, officers forced entry into the room. He continued to fight with officers as they took him into custody. Due to the extent of the self-inflicted injuries, he was

"These types of calls are unfortunately more and more common and particularly dangerous to all involved," Police Chief Mitchell Little said. "I would like to commend all the officers for their outstanding job in preventing a tragedy, as well as their composure and professionalism during this extremely dangerous incident."

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