WEST ORANGE — A 46-year-old man threatened last weekend to shoot at police officers, kill his neighbors and the neighbor’s dog during a standoff at his West Orange apartment, according to a police report released Friday.
Joseph Esposito was charged with terroristic threats, resisting arrest and criminal mischief after the Sunday night confrontation at the Babcock Place rooming house, according to police. Esposito remained held at the Essex County jail Friday, records show.
The standoff came after West Orange officers went to arrest Esposito for an unspecified warrant, but did not find him Sunday night, the police report said. A short time later, around 8:30 p.m., officers returned to the residence for a report of a burglary and assault.
Police found Esposito “throwing objects/contents of his apartment out the window at officers,” the document stated.
Esposito allegedly said “he is going to shoot at officers if we come in, as well as kill his neighbors and the neighbors dog,” according to the police report.
Officers went to secure other residents in the building and heard Esposito barricade his front door with furniture, the report said. Township police called for backup from the State Police tactical unit, called TEAMS.
“Multiple attempts to negotiate with Mr. Esposito were met with negative results by WOPD and NJSP TEAMS unit,” the police report stated.
Police said troopers with TEAMS got inside the home and arrested Esposito, but it was unclear exactly how troopers reached him.
Esposito was treated for “K-9 punctures on his body” and swelling to his face, according to the township report. Police cleared seven people from other rooms in the boarding house and two adjacent homes during the standoff.
According to the police report, officers did not find any guns in the residence.
Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc and on Facebook. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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