RARITAN TOWNSHIP, NJ (Hunterdon County) – A sword-wielding man surrendered to police after he broke windows at a deli and ran towards a police officer during an incident Wednesday afternoon in Raritan Township, police said.
On May 25, at around 3:21 p.m., police responded to Deliworks, located at 218 Route 31, for a report of a man with a sword breaking windows of the business. After breaking the windows, the man walked northbound on Route 31, while still possessing the sword, police said.
The man then walked into a wooded area behind HealthQuest Fitness, located at 310 Route 31, police said.
Raritan Township Police, along with Flemington Borough Police responded to the area and encountered the man, in the area around HealthQuest. Officers attempted to have him drop the sword but he refused and at one point he ran towards an officer in an aggressive manner, police said.
Officers were forced to deploy less lethal munitions in order to stop the man’s aggression and non-compliance. After the deployment, he turned and ran back into the wooded area along the Raritan River.
Several local businesses were then put on lockdown. Police personnel from Readington Township, West Amwell, Tewksbury, Lambertville, County Parks, Clinton Township, along with the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office and Hunterdon County SWAT team responded to assist.
Communication on with the man, who was still in possession of the sword, continued while he walked along the river, police said.
Then at around 4:28 p.m., after continuous dialogue, the man voluntarily put down the sword and was safely taken into custody, police said.
He was then transported to Hunterdon Medical Center for evaluation. The man, whose identity was not released, was charged with aggravated assault against a police officer, possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes, criminal mischief, and obstruction. No injuries were reported, police said.
