On June 3, 2023 at 7:58 P.M., the Secaucus Police Department received a 9-1-1 call from a resident of The Harper, 100 Park Plaza Drive. The caller reported that her fiancée, a 29-year-old male of Secaucus, was making irrational statements. A subsequent phone call was merged between the caller, the caller’s fiancée and Secaucus Police Department 9-1-1 operator. During that phone call, the male made homicidal statements.
Secaucus Police Officers were dispatched to the residence to check on the male’s well-being. Upon their knock on the apartment door they were denied entry and the police officers were threatened to be harmed. It was further confirmed that the male was alone in the apartment with an Australian Sheppard dog.
Residents in the immediate area of the subject apartment were evacuated for their safety and the Hudson County Regional SWAT Team was activated along with a screener from the “Mobile Psychological Crisis Unit,” based out of the Jersey City Medical Center. Over more than a seven-hour period, numerous attempts, through a variety of means, were made to negotiate with this male to no avail.
At 2:18 A.M., members of the Hudson County Regional SWAT Team made entry into the apartment and took the male into custody. Upon entry, it was discovered that at some point during the standoff, prior to law enforcement’s entry, this male killed the Australian Sheppard.
The male, who will not be identified due to the nature of this incident, was arrested and charged with Terroristic Threats [2C:12-3b]. He was taken to the Jersey City Medical Center for a mental health evaluation. This charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. This matter remains under investigation and additional charges may be forthcoming
“I am extremely proud of the decision making and the tact displayed by the 9-1-1 operator, the initial responding officers and supervisor, along with my Command Staff who also responded to the scene,” Chief Dennis Miller said. “Although I am extremely saddened for the resident for the loss of her dog, I will say that the patience and professionalism of members of the Secaucus Police Department and Hudson County Regional SWAT were the immediate cause that this incident ended with no injury to the subject, police personnel or any civilian. I want to personally thank everyone who responded to this incident.”
