Authorities say a response to an intentionally activated fire alarm turned into a negotiation with tactical police when an as-yet-unidentified person barricaded himself within an apartment on Kings Highway.
By Matt Skoufalos | May 20, 2024
Haddonfield Police and Camden County Sheriff’s Offfice tactical units in downtown Haddonfield. Credit: NJPEN.
A standoff between first responders and a barricaded person in a Haddonfield apartment was resolved without incident Monday.
Around 1:30 p.m., Haddonfield Police and Haddon Fire Company No. 1 responded to an apartment in the 100 block of Kings Highway for a report of an intentionally activated fire alarm in the building.
When they arrived, the tenant whom police allege pulled the alarm “barricaded himself inside the apartment and refused to vacate,” according to a statement from Haddonfield Police Chief Jason Cutler.
On Kings Highway, residents, business owners, and passersby looked on as the scene was controlled for nearly three hours with police tape and emergency vehicles from across the county.
Tactical units sheltered residents with riot gear as they evacuated them from the building Monday afternoon, and prepared an explosive ordinance disposal (EOD) robot for deployment in the rear of the property.
Although the person who was arrested Monday has not yet been identified by authorities, neighbors recognized him as a person whom they say has disrupted activity on the block for some time.
Camden County tactical units prepare an EOD robot. Credit: NJPEN.
The suspect is alleged to have set off car alarms and smoke alarms intentionally during the overnight hours, they said.
He also may have threatened other residents in the area.
None of these claims could be immediately verified by police Monday.
Over the course of a couple hours, the Camden County Sheriff Tactical and Negotiation Team were able to remove the person peacefully.
Charges are pending, and the investigation into the incident is ongoing, Cutler said.
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