BERNARDSVILLE N.J. - Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson, Chief of County Detectives John W. Fodor, and Bernardsville Chief of Police Kevin Valentine announced that an approximately 3 ½ hour standoff ended peacefully after a 28-year old Bernardsville resident surrendered to police.
According to a statement released from The Somerset County Prosecutor's Office, at approximately 2:37 P.M., the Bernardsville Police Department responded to a single, family residence on Mine Street in the Township of Bernardsville on a report of a distraught individual with access to firearms.
The request for assistance came from a family member within the home. The Bernardsville Police Department secured the perimeter and evacuated approximately 20 homes. The area of Bernards Avenue and surrounding streets were closed for about 3 ½ hours.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that the Somerset County SWAT team, Crisis Negotiators and County Tactical Emergency Medical Services (TEMS) personnel responded to the scene on Mine Street.
Several additional law enforcement agencies and emergency medical services responded to assist, including the Bridgewater Township Police Department, the Warren Township Police Department, the Far Hills Police Department, the Peapack-Gladstone Police Department, the Bedminster Police Department, the Somerset County the Bernardsville Fire Department and First Aid Squad, the Peapack-Gladstone First Aid Squad, and the Bernardsville Office of Emergency Management (OEM) CERT volunteers who assisted the evacuated residents.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that the individual was taken to an area hospital for medical evaluation after peacefully surrendering to police.
Prosecutor Robertson commends the swift emergency response from all the agencies involved which resulted in the peaceful resolution of this incident.