By Michael O. Allen, Record Staff Writer | Thursday, January 10, 1991
The Record (New Jersey) | Four Star B | NEWS | Page B04
A 38-year-old borough man who may have been distraught over losing his job was arrested and jailed Wednesday after he barricaded himself in his apartment and threatened to kill anyone who came near, police said.
Zachary E. Mohrmann of Walker Street surrendered 2 1/2 hours after the standoff began late Tuesday, said Detective Richard Petruzzelli.
He was being held on $5,000 bail in the Bergen County Jail on charges of resisting arrest and making terroristic threats. Petruzzelli said other charges may be filed.
Mohrmann had an argument with his wife shortly before 11 p.m. Tuesday and began to destroy things in his apartment, Petruzzelli said. When police arrived to calm him, his wife fled with their child to a friend’s house.
Meanwhile, Mohrmann informed police that he was a Vietnam veteran with extensive combat experience, saying he was armed and would kill anyone who came near, Petruzzelli said. His wife told police that her husband did three tours of duty in the Southeast Asian country.
“It was an extremely ticklish situation,” Petruzzelli said. “At the time, you had to take his word as gospel because we didn’t know. Thank God nobody was hurt and it wound up the right way. “
Fairview police called up the Bergen County SWAT team and asked for additional backup from Cliffside Park police, he said.
But after several hostile pronouncements, Petruzzelli said, Mohrmann broke open a front window, stuck his head out and screamed: “I’m coming out! I’m coming out! “
He threw out a toy rifle and emerged. The suspect scuffled briefly with Petruzzelli, Lt. John Schmidig of the SWAT team, and Fairview Sgt. John Pinzone before they subdued him and placed him under arrest.
Mohrmann complained of chest pains but refused treatment after being taken to Palisades General Hospital, Petruzzelli said.
Keywords: FAIRVIEW; MENTAL; HEALTH; VETERAN
ID: 17329167 | Copyright © 1991, The Record (New Jersey)
Leave a Reply