Hopatcong officers on Nov. 20th at 7:55 p.m., responded to a home on Lakeside Boulevard after receiving a report that Robert J Collins made a threat of shooting someone with a stolen handgun.
Upon arrival, Collins refused to come out of the home or speak with officers. The NJ State Police Teams Unit responded to the residence and attempted to negotiate a surrender. Collins still refused to cooperate, so a mechanical robot was sent in to make contact with Collins.
Officials say Collins struck the robot multiple times with a pry bar. After 7 hours barricaded in his home, Collins finally agreed to come out of his residence at which point he was taken into custody.
According to authorities, following a search of the residence, officers seized three stolen handguns and the pry bar.
Police charged Collins with terroristic threats, theft of a firearm, possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, certain persons who shall not possess a firearm, and criminal mischief. Collins is being lodged at that Sussex County Jail.
The Hopatcong Police would like to thank the NJ State Police, the Sussex County Prosecutors Office, Byram Police Department, Stanhope Police Department, and Roxbury Police Department for their assistance. Officials also thanked residents in the area for their cooperation.