BERKELEY TOWNSHIP, N.J. — A 50-year-old man experiencing a mental health crisis was taken into custody without incident Tuesday night after barricading himself in a bedroom with a handgun, according to Ocean County officials.
Berkeley Township Police responded to a home on Whitaker Drive around 6:45 p.m. following a 911 call reporting a medical emergency. Family members informed officers that the man had locked himself in his room and was in possession of a firearm, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.
Initial attempts by police to communicate with the subject were unsuccessful, prompting the deployment of the Ocean County Regional SWAT Team. Authorities began negotiations while evacuating nearby homes as a precaution.
After nearly three hours of negotiations, the man exited the residence at approximately 9:30 p.m. and surrendered to SWAT officers without further incident. He was uninjured and transported to a medical facility for evaluation.
“Prosecutor Billhimer and Chief Santucci commend the Berkeley Township Police Department and Ocean County Regional SWAT Team for their combined assistance during this incident,” officials stated.
Evacuations ordered as safety measure
The temporary evacuations were conducted to ensure public safety while the standoff was ongoing. There were no reports of injuries to officers, residents, or the subject.
Authorities did not disclose the type of firearm involved or whether the man made any threats during the incident. The name of the individual has not been released, and no charges have been announced.
Police confirmed the scene was cleared and residents were allowed to return to their homes shortly after the situation was resolved.
Officials say the incident highlights the importance of mental health response coordination and praised the peaceful resolution.
This story was originally broken by Jersey Coast Emergency News on Facebook.
