According to Clifton Police Lt. Robert Bracken, earlier today, officers responded to the 300 block of Lexington Avenue on the report of an individual lighting clothes on fire inside of an apartment.
Lt. Bracken said police arrived to find a combative individual who refused to open the door. After determining that the fire was no longer burning, officers tried to negotiate with the person from the hallway.
Police say he grew angrier and began to toss chairs and other hard objects from the second-floor window, damaging patrol cars parked outside.
While negotiating with the individual, Lt. Bracken said officers determined that he was a wanted person identified by the Clifton Detective Bureau as a suspect in a stabbing that took place a few weeks ago on Highland Avenue.
Detectives searched for him for aggravated assault in the second degree and weapons possession-related offenses but could not locate him to date.
After two hours of negotiating, Lt. Bracken said the Passaic County Sheriff's Department SWAT Team members utilized a distraction device and made entry into the apartment.
A SWAT officer sustained an arm injury during the struggle and was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital during the encounter.
Police took the suspect into custody then subsequently transported him to St. Joseph's Hospital, where he received psychological treatment, Lt. Bracken said.
Due to the suspect's status as an emotionally disturbed person, his identity is not being released.