A New Milford resident acting in defense of his wife and child used a kitchen knife to subdue an intoxicated intruder during an early morning home invasion on Sunday.
New Milford Police were dispatched to an apartment on Faller Drive at approximately 3:34 a.m. following reports of a burglary in progress. Upon arrival, officers found the resident restraining a 26-year-old Long Branch man on the kitchen floor. The intruder was suffering from severe 6-inch laceration to his skull.
According to investigators, the resident was awakened by aggressive knocking at his door. When he partially opened the door to inform the man he was at the wrong address, the suspect allegedly began banging even more violently. Fearing for the safety of his family, the resident armed himself with a kitchen knife.
Police say the suspect then kicked the door open, forcing his way into the apartment and rushing at the resident. A struggle ensued that moved from the living room into the kitchen. During the fight, both men fell to the floor, where the resident slashed the intruder across the head.
The suspect, whose identity has not yet been formally released, told officers he was intoxicated and believed he was attempting to enter a different apartment. He was transported to Hackensack University Medical Center with injuries described as non-life-threatening.
The resident and his family were not physically harmed during the altercation.
The incident remains under investigation by the New Milford Police Department. Authorities have not yet announced what charges the Long Branch man will face or if any action will be taken regarding the resident’s use of force.
