Paramus NJ: Man Arrested After Standoff With Police

PARAMUS, NEW JERSEY (UNF NEWS) – Sunday, April 9, 2023, at 8:15 pm the Ridgewood Police Department put out an alert that a male had fled the scene of an aggravated domestic violence incident that occurred within their jurisdiction. The male, identified as Keith Hanlon, who was armed with a butcher knife had fled in his vehicle. The suspect had stated that he wished to be killed by the police. Several minutes later, off-duty Paramus Officer Michael Mordaga, who was on his way to work, and on duty officer Nicholas Tannelli observed the vehicle traveling on Route 17 south onto Route 4 east bound. The vehicle pulled into the Atrium Building on Route 4 eastbound. The suspect opened his car door and officers attempted to speak with him. The suspect was extremely irate with the officers. He then slammed his car door shut and drove away to a different area of the Atrium parking lot. When the vehicle finally stopped, officers deployed spike strips under the vehicle’s tires to prevent him driving away again. Officers attempted to negotiate with the suspect for approximately 20 minutes. The suspect refused to communicate and turned his car radio up to full volume. At this time, police officers Sean Casey, Kevin Osback and Lieutenant Elliot Colon arrived on the scene to assist. They were also joined by officers from the Ridgewood Police Department, Maywood Police Department and Bergen County Sheriff’s Office. At a point in the attempted negotiations, officers had an opportunity to overpower and remove the suspect from his vehicle. After struggling with the officers, he was handcuffed and placed under arrest. Police recovered the butcher knife from inside the vehicle. He was transported by police and the Paramus Emergency Medical Service to New Bridge Medical Center for evaluation. The suspect was charged in Paramus with resisting arrest and was also facing charges for domestic violence from the Ridgewood Police Department. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.