Multiple Guns, Ammunition Found After 34-Hour Standoff In Bridgewater, Affidavit Reveals

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Multiple weapons, high-capacity magazines, and ammunition were found after a 34-hour SWAT standoff on Hill Lane in Bridgewater, according to new details released Tuesday in police documents.

Eric J. Thorogood, 25, of Bridgewater, is facing several weapons-related charges following his arrest on Saturday.

The Affidavit of Probable Cause obtained by Patch details the circumstances surrounding the standoff.

A 911 call was made on May 7 at around 7:44 p.m. to the Bridgewater Police Department about Thorogood.

Police went to the home on Hill Lane and spoke to a resident who said Thorogood had firearms and was making homicidal comments, according to the report.

The Somerset County SWAT team was then activated.

"Thorogood prevented police officers from entering the residence for hours by pointing a rifle towards officers and refusing repeated requests to drop his firearm," according to the report.

On May 9, after police tried numerous times to get Thorogood to drop his weapon, officers went into the home.

Thorogood fired two rounds as officers surrounded him and took him into custody. He ended up shooting himself in the right leg, according to the report.

Police did not fire any shots during the arrest, and no law enforcement officers were hit by gunfire or had serious injuries.

Thorogood was taken for treatment.

A search of the Hill Lane home and Thorogood uncovered "numerous high-capacity magazines, ammunition, and a rifle that did not contain a serial number."

A handgun was also found at the home, according to the report.

Thorogood was charged with second-degree possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, third-degree possession of a firearm without a serial number, third-degree endangering another, fourth-degree aggravated assault, and fourth-degree possession of a high-capacity ammunition magazine.

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