Man In Secaucus SWAT Standoff Was Wanted For Parole Violation

SECAUCUS, NJ — Secaucus Police said state parole officers were trying to carry out an arrest warrant for a man, and that's what started the multi-hour SWAT stand-off at Plaza Gardens apartments Wednesday.

Sahil Ram was taken into custody, after the Hudson County SWAT team sent gas into his apartment shortly before 4 p.m. Wednesday.

The incident began at approximately 9:46 Wednesday morning, when NJ State Parole officers requested assistance at 1326 Paterson Plank Road (Plaza Gardens apartments) in effectuating an arrest warrant for Ram, who was out on parole.

They had a warrant for Ram's arrest for violating parole, said Secaucus Police Chief Dennis Miller.

Ram armed himself with a knife and barricaded himself in his apartment to avoid being arrested, said police.

Secaucus Police officers arrived on scene and immediately established a perimeter around the apartment, plus incident command. The Hudson County Regional SWAT Team was called in.

During the hours-long standoff, Ram made verbal threats, displayed knives and threw knives at police officers from a second-floor window, said police. At no point did he have a hostage, said Miller.

Officers on scene spent hours attempting to de-escalate and negotiate his surrender.

"After exhausting those attempts, the Hudson County Regional SWAT Team deployed gas into the apartment which ultimately led to the suspect's surrender," said Secaucus Police in a Facebook post at 8 p.m. Wednesday.

A member of Hudson County SWAT was injured by Ram when he was struck with a blunt-force object just prior to Ram surrendering, said police.

This was the SWAT standoff at the Plaza Gardens apartment complex, across from the library and the Dunkin' Donuts.

That is the reason for the heavy police and SWAT presence at that area, at Paterson Plank Road and First Street. SWAT officers could be seen Wednesday outside the man's apartment.

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Secaucus Police asked the public in a Facebook post to avoid the area.