TOMS RIVER – First responders brought a barricaded suicidal suspect safely to custody after an incident involving a knife at a local hotel, officials said.
Officers from the Toms River Police Department were called to the Motel 6 on Route 37 around 10:20 a.m. on March 10 regarding a disorderly in progress with a barricaded suspect possessing a knife.
Toms River Police Department Spokesperson Jillian Messina confirmed that officers tried to deescalate the situation and communicate with the man. However, negotiations were unsuccessful and the man began cutting his throat with a box cutter/knife.
Officers forced entry into the room in effort to stop the man from causing further harm to himself. As a result, the man continued to fight with officers as they took him into custody.
He was brought to Jersey Shore Medical Center due to his self-inflicted injuries. The man underwent surgery and is listed in critical, but stable condition, Messina said.
“These types of calls are unfortunately more and more common and particularly dangerous to all involved. I would like to commend all the officers for their outstanding job in preventing a tragedy, as well as their composure and professionalism during this extremely dangerous incident,” Chief Mitchell Little said.
