A Linden man was arrested yesterday after he barricaded himself in his apartment, threatening to kill officers who arrived to check on him, police said today.
Jesse Rockwell, 31, was arrested after more than a two hours of scuffle with officers as the city's SWAT team was on standby.
According to police, a woman from Tennessee called police claiming her son - a resident on the 900 block of Worth Avenue - was acting incoherent and threatening to harm police who came to help, said Captain James Sarnicki.
Officers arrived to the Worth Venue apartment sometime after 2:30 p.m. yesterday.
Upon arrival, police made contact with knife welding Rockwell, who according to police threatened to kill any officer who tried to enter his apartment.
After more than two hours of communicating with Rockwell, police were able to get close enough to grab him. During a brief struggle with officer, Rockwell allegedly tried to grab another a responding officer's gun.
Rockwell was arrested and transported to Trinitas Regional Medical Center for a mental health evaluation, added Sarnicki.
Rockwell has been charged with making terroristic threats, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose and attempting to disarm a law enforcement officer.