Knife-Wielding Westfield Man Arrested Following 14-Hour Stand Off

WESTFIELD, NJ — A Westfield man was arrested following 14-hour long police stand-off involving SWAT early Thursday morning.

Michael P. Ward, 41, was charged following a domestic dispute at a home in the 1500 block of Boulevard, said Westfield Police Chief Christopher Battiloro.

On Wednesday, July 5 at around 3:39 p.m., a 911 call prompted Westfield Police to come to the home. This was the police's second response to this home on the same day for a domestic dispute, said Battiloro.

When police arrived they could hear arguing inside and were met at the front door by Ward, who was holding a large kitchen knife about 12 inches in length above his head with the blade pointed outwards towards the officers, said Battiloro.

Officers demanded that Ward drop the knife, but he refused and ordered the officers to leave, saying they would have to shoot in order for him to relinquish it, said Battiloro.

He then retreated back inside the home, closing and locking the door.

The door was then opened by Ward’s mother, and officers told everyone inside to exit the home, leaving only Ward inside the home.

"Officers then learned that, earlier, Ward had grabbed his wife around her throat, applying pressure to it and cutting off her breathing, and agreed only to stop if she called the police," said Battiloro.

Ward told officers it was his intent to draw a police response and to then die by suicide by cop, said Battiloro.

Westfield Police Department officers secured the area around the home and the SWAT element of the Union County Emergency Response Team was requested to respond.

Negotiators initiated and continued hours-long on-and-off communications with Ward, but were unable to convince him to voluntarily leave the home.

SWAT went into the home and took Ward into custody at around 5:31 a.m. on Thursday, July 6. He is currently detained pending further proceedings.

Ward is charged with the following:

• 1 count of Aggravated Assault, 2C:12-1B(13), a crime of the second degree
• 1 count of Terroristic Threats, 2C:12-3B, a crime of the third degree
• 1 count of Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, 2C:39-4D, a crime of the third degree
• 1 count of Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, 2C:39-5D, a crime of the third degree
• 3 counts of Endangering Welfare of Children, 2C: 24-4A(2), crimes of the second degree

"I cannot praise enough the professional actions of all responding officers, in particular SWAT and the crisis negotiators, who worked for a such a lengthy period of time in extremely hot and humid conditions, to bring this matter to a successful conclusion without any serious injuries to
any persons," said Battiloro. "No incident of this nature can ever be successfully resolved without the coordination and cooperation of many entities working together."

Battiloro also recognized the following additional emergency service agencies that operated at the scene or assisted the Westfield Police Department in its investigation of this incident including the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, Union County Sheriff’s Office, Westfield Volunteer Emergency Medical Services, Westfield Fire Department, Westfield Department of Public Works, Union County Emergency Medical Services, and New Jersey State Police, Office of Emergency Management.

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