Unwanted Thanksgiving guest pulls machete, threatens New Milford family, police say

YOU READ IT HERE FIRST: An uninvited guest at a Thanksgiving dinner threatened the hosts with a machete, then had to be pulled from his van by officers who found the weapon and two baseball bats, New Milford Police Chief Frank Papapietro said tonight.

Photo Credit: *Cliffview Pilot File Photo*

Jerry DeMarco

11/29/2013 3:43 a.m.

Joseph Hoo, 48, of Montclair got the machete out of his van after the Greve Drive hosts asked him to leave around 1:50 p.m., the chief said.

Brandishing the weapon, he “made threatening remarks to the family inside,” the victim told police.

Officers Michael Lafrano and Brian Carlino quickly pulled the van over, but Hoo “became uncooperative,” Papapietro said.

They were soon joined by Sgt. Daniel LaMorges and Kevin VanSaders, who helped Hoo and his son, 18-year-old Drew Hoo, out of the vehicle, while finding the 18-inch machete and baseball bats, the chief said.

Joseph Hoo was later released on his own recognizance — with a no-contact order — pending a Dec. 11 first appearance on charges of making terroristic threats and two unlawful weapons counts.

His son was not charged.

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