Somerset County man involved in barricaded incident faces several charges following SWAT standoff
BRIDGEWATER TOWNSHIP, NJ (Somerset County) – A Bridgewater Township man has been charged following an investigation into a barricaded incident that occurred on Friday in Bridgewater Township, according to Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald.
On Nov. 10, at around 7:19 a.m., police received a 9-1-1 call for an unknown problem at a residence on Columbia Drive. Additional 9-1-1 calls were received from family members with concerns for an adult female relative that was reported to be in the residence against her will, McDonald said.
Upon arrival investigation revealed that the entry to the residence was barricaded and the suspect, identified as Alonzo Blakey, 50, was inside the residence, holding the female against her will and threatening to hurt himself and the female victim, McDonald said.
Members of the Somerset County SWAT Team, the Somerset County Crisis Negotiations Team (CNT), Somerset County SWAT Team Tactical Medics and members of Somerset County Communications Field Mobile Command Post responded to the scene, McDonald said.
Prosecutor McDonald said that for approximately four hours members of the Somerset County Crisis Negotiations Team attempted to negotiate with Blakey.
SWAT officers who were staged in a tactical position to make an immediate entry subsequently heard the victim screaming from within the residence, McDonald said.
Immediately members of the SWAT team initiated an explosive breach of the front door of the residence, which was barricaded with various items and furniture. Upon making entry the female victim ran towards the SWAT Officers who were able to rescue her and remove her from the residence, McDonald said.
The female victim had apparent stab wounds and lacerations to her face and hand, McDonald said.
Simultaneously, SWAT officers encountered Blakey who collapsed to the floor. As SWAT Officers approached Blakey, he was observed to have self-inflicted stab wounds to his arm. SWAT Officers placed Blakey into custody and applied a tourniquet as a life-saving measure due to the severity of his injuries, McDonald said.
SWAT Officers along with Tactical Medics assigned to the Somerset County SWAT Team from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital rendered life-saving emergency aid at the scene to both Blakey and the victim, McDonald said.
Both were transported to an area trauma center for medical attention and are expected to survive, McDonald said.
Blakey was charged second-degree aggravated assault, third-degree possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, and fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, McDonald said.
Blakey remains at an area trauma center under police guard by the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office. Upon release, he will be transported to the Somerset County Jail by the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office where he will be lodged pending a detention hearing, McDonald said.
The incident remains under investigation, McDonald said.
