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Bergenfield Man Charged With Guns After Suicidal Roommate Surrenders

BERGENFIELD, N.J. -- A Bergenfield ex-con was arrested after police called to deal with his barricaded, suicidal roommate found him with a trove of illegal weapons, authorities said Thursday.

The area surrounding the home off Hickory Avenue and Chestnut Street was briefly closed to traffic.

The area surrounding the home off Hickory Avenue and Chestnut Street was briefly closed to traffic.

Photo Credit: GoogleMaps

Edeward Obertlik, 42, was taken into custody after the suicidal resident surrendered to police Wednesday afternoon, Capt. Mustaf Rabboh said Thursday.

Obertlik was charged with illegally possessing a handgun, an assault rifle, another rifle and four shotguns -- as well as with being a convicted felon in possession of weapons, Rabboh said.

Police responded just after 2 p.m. to the home off Hickory Lane and Chestnut Street on a call of a man "threatening suicide with a gun inside," the captain said.

They initially had trouble getting hold of the man, who remained in contact with the caller who summoned police, Rabboh said.

The Bergen County Regional SWAT Team was notified, mutual aid was requested from Dumont and Tenafly police and area streets were cordoned off.

The SWAT team was called off, howver, when the suicidal man emerged from the house and surrendered. He was taken to Bergen Regional Medical Center in Paramus, Rabboh said.

Police secured the home, obtained a search warrant and found the guns, he said.

A judge ordered Obertlik held on $120,000 bail in the Bergen County Jail.

Police arrested Obertlik two years ago Thursday after they said he took a sledgehammer to the windows of a car owned by a New Milford man who was dating his estranged wife.

He previously had aggravated assault and weapons conditions on his record at the time, records show.

Obertlik has since been arrested again -- for violating probation and DWI, records show.

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