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Rakesh Patel, 47, of Wildwood, was charged with three counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, third-degree terroristic threats, third-degree resisting arrest, third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, and fourth-degree obstruction of justice. The Wildwood Police Department announced the charges in a news release on Tuesday, Feb. 13.
Officers responded to a home on West 26th Avenue for a family dispute reported by the state Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P) at around 2:34 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 11. DCP&P was trying to serve a no-contact order to Patel, who was at another location before going to the 26th Avenue home where his family was staying.
Police said Patel barricaded himself inside the home with his family and threatened to hurt officers. The Cape May County Regional SWAT Team responded and set up a multi-block perimeter.
The crisis negotiation team for the Cape May County Prosecutor's Office also helped at the scene. The family wasn't injured and got out of the home safely, but Patel refused to leave the home.
After several hours of negotiating, the county SWAT team went into the home and Patel was arrested. Police also collected evidence from the home when they executed a search warrant.
Patel was being held at the Cape May County Correctional Center.
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