SWAT Standoff: Negotiators Talk FDNY Retiree From New Milford Home Following Threat

Negotiators talked a retired New York City Fire Department paramedic out of his New Milford home after a SWAT standoff of a little over an hour and a half Wednesday.

The 63-year-old tenant apparently made threatening remarks during an angry call to a fire department organization in New York after he had difficulty with a particular benefit, Detective Sgt. Kevin Van Saders.

"He had threatened to bring an assault rifle to their building and open fire," Van Saders said.

The reference to an AK-47 prompted the FDNY division to call local police, who also summoned a Bergen County Regional SWAT team, the county Regional Crisis Negotiation Team and sheriff's officers to the man's Brookcheser Apartments home.

After speaking with the negotiators, he calmly emerged and was taken to Bergen New Bridge Medical Center in Paramus under police guard, said Lt. Brian Clancy, who takes over as chief of the department on May 1.

A search didn't turn up any weapons, Clancy said.

No charges were filed.

SWAT incident at Brookchester Apartments in New Milford.

DAILY VOICE photo by Lisa Cotichio

DAILY VOICE photo by Lisa Cotichio

Click here to sign up for Daily Voice's free daily emails and news alerts.