UPDATED: Man Barricaded on Utah Drive, Six Occupants Cleared From Home

Udated 6:30 p.m.:

Police cleared a bi-level home of six occupants and shut down portions of Utah Drive for six hours as a remaining occupant barricaded himself in a rented room for six hours before killing himself, police said.

Toms River Police Chief Michael Mastronardy said the homeowner called police around 3 a.m. this morning to report a 41 year-old male tenant was in his room with a hand gun.

“Police were able to have six people in the home safely removed and established a perimeter when informed that the man indicated he may harm himself with a firearm he had in his possession,” said Mastronardy in an email.

The police chief said the tenant, whose name was not released, only recently moved in to the home on Utah Drive’s 800 block, a residential street that runs parallel to Windsor Avenue.

Responding to the incident was Sergeant Raymond Maloney who arrived with three officers after 3 a.m. Thereafter, the police response escalated, with Captain Steven Henry serving as operations Bureau Commandeer to coordinate the police response, and Captain Bruce Burgess Detective Commander and his Detectives assumed negations during the incident.  

The team spent the next six hours in a stand off with the barricaded tenant, trying to get him out of the house, Mastronardy said.

“These commanders utilized various resources to try to have the victim come out of the home for over six hours,” said the police chief. 

All the while, officers established a perimeter around the Utah Drive home, securing the area between Duke and Princess Streets, said the chief.  Adjacent homes were contacted, with about a dozen residents notified of possible danger.

“Toms River Police Communications Officers contacted the residents of about a dozen homes in the immediate area and had them secure themselves in their residences during the incident,” Mastronardy said.

As negotiations continued into 10 a.m., the emergency service unit entered the home in an effort to have the male occupant come out.

“The Toms River Police Emergency Service Unit headed by Lt. Michael Brosnan had a team of officers enter the residence just before 10 a.m. after all efforts failed to have the man come out of the home,” Mastronardy said. “Regrettably, ESU officers then learned that the 41 year old man apparently used the firearm to take his own life.”

The police chief said the assistance of neighbors as well as the home’s other occupants was appreciated.

“The Toms River Police Department is grateful for the cooperation of all the residences during this unfortunate incident,” Mastronardy said.

Ocean County Prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford also responded to the scene with some of her staff.  Investigating the incident are Officer Dewey Unger and Detective James Magovern.  Also assisting were the Toms River Police EMS and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department and the East Dover Fire Company.

As of 12 p.m.:

A reported standoff with police on Utah Drive closed a portion of the residential street this morning as officers investigated an escalating disturbance report of a man with a handgun, police said.

Toms River Police Chief Michael Mastronardy said that at 11:45 a.m., the incident was under control.

He said the residents of Utah Drive were not at risk and that the road was currently open to traffic. Utah Drive runs parallel to Windsor Avenue, intersecting with Vaughn Avenue.

The police chief said further details would be released this afternoon.

This is a breaking news report. Stay tuned to Toms River Patch for further details.