Woman Barricaded in Westwood Apartment Removed Safely

A woman residing at the Roxbury complex on Fairview Avenue in Westwood barricaded herself inside Thursday morning after throwing items out her window, according to police. Police broke down her door and removed her around 1 p.m.

Weswood Police Chief Frank Regino said the woman, who lives in a third floor apartment, began throwing items out a back window. Construction workers alerted police at 9:03 a.m. who responded to the scene and the woman refused to come out, Regino said.

The woman, who Regino classified as "emotionally disturbed" and said police have dealt with for many years, was not known to have weapons. She does, however, have what Regino described as "a vicious dog," a pittbull mix. The county brought a K-9 officer to the scene to deal with the animal, which was removed from the apartment.

Regino said department protocol is to call the Bergen County SWAT team to the scene of an emotionally disturbed person because they can handle weapons and protect the individual. Paramedics and the fire inspector were on standby.

"We've tried to cover all bases to make sure this comes to a close in a safe manner," Regino said while the woman was still barricaded inside.

A hostage negotiator from the county SWAT team tried talking with the woman through the door, encouraging her to let police in. Regino said others tried talking with her on the phone, but none were successful.

"They had to break the door down," Regino said around 1 p.m. "She did in fact come peacefully once they opened the door so they didn't have to physically restrain her."

The woman was taken in a Hillsdale Ambulance to Bergen Regional Medical Center in Paramus for treatment, Regino said.

According to the chief, the woman didn't commit any crimes. "I don't see that there will be any charges," Regino said. "Unfortunately she's a woman in need of medical treatment and that's what we intend to get for her."

No one was hurt in the incident and no residents were evacuated from their homes. Center Avenue between Lake Street and Fairview Avenue was closed for several hours during the incident.

Rich Mattalian, who manages the building, said the woman has lived there for 18 years. He said there have been minor incidents with her in the past, but "it hasn't been like this."

Vice president of the condiminium association and neighbor Michael Daly said men were repairing the balconies Thursday morning before the woman began throwing items. He added that she's been told four times to remove her dog because it is prohibited in the building.