Chairs Tossed From Windows, Cop Injured In Passaic Co. SWAT Standoff: Police

CLIFTON, NJ — A cop injured their arm, and a person tossed some chairs out of apartment windows during a SWAT standoff Thursday in Clifton. The hours-long confrontation ended with police taking the suspect into custody and then to the hospital for psychological treatment.

Police went to the 300 block of Lexington Avenue for a report of someone lighting clothes on fire inside an apartment. They found a "combative" person who refused to open the door, according to Clifton police.

Clifton police did not publicly identify the person.

After determining the fire was out, patrol officers tried negotiating from the hallway. But he grew angrier and started tossing chairs and other hard objects from the second-floor window, damaging patrol cars parked outside, police said.

During negotiations, police realized the person was wanted for a stabbing that occurred a few weeks ago in Clifton, authorities said. Detectives had been unsuccessfully searching for the person, who had outstanding charges for aggravated assault (second-degree) and weapons-related offenses.

The suspect refused to surrender and became more hostile after two hours of negotiations, police said. So law enforcement called in the Passaic County Sheriff's Office SWAT Team.

The SWAT team used a distraction device to enter the apartment. An ensuing struggle resulted in an arm injury for a SWAT officer, who officials took to the hospital.

Authorities took the suspect into custody and then to the hospital, where he received psychological treatment, police said.

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