Gloucester Twp. NJ Man Threatens Police with Giant Metal Spear

It was an unnerving situation in a Gloucester Twp. neighborhood over the weekend where a man was swinging a giant spear at drivers passing by, eventually getting into an altercation with police.

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The incident, involving a 54-year-old Sicklerville man, unfolded Saturday morning just after 6 a.m. on Garwood Road in Erial (near Sicklerville Rd.).

Reportedly, the man was taunting and attempting to accost passing vehicles with the metal spear, according to Patch.com. He also reportedly had a can of bear-repellant pepper spray. The spear had a sharpened blade at one end, say police.

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Gloucester Township Police were alerted to the scene, where they attempted to calm the man down and disarm him. The man reportedly continued to yell and spew profanities. Officers were able to usher the man into the parking lot at nearby Villari's Restaurant off Sicklerville Road.

After a confrontation involving the metal spear, officers employed a taser to subdue the man. He was transported to a nearby hospital for physical evaluation, and presumably, metal evaluation.

The man, who's identity was not disclosed, now faces charges of third-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, fourth-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a chemical substance.

Gloucester Township Police Chief David Harkins praised responding officers, saying, "I am proud of the officers involved in this incident. They remained calm and used the techniques and tactics that we train on. They worked as a team, while being threatened by an unstable person who was threatening them with a clearly deadly weapon. This incident could have ended in tragedy for the suspect or the officers. The officers demonstrated a tremendous amount of restraint."

I grew up in this section of Gloucester Twp., often riding my bike on Garwood Rd. Just such a bizarre incident in my old neighborhood. I'm glad no one was seriously injured.

SOURCES: Patch.com via Gloucester Twp. Patch

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