Woodbridge police were justified when they shot a man who died in a 3-hour standoff, the Middlesex County prosecutor said.
WOODBRIDGE -- Police were justified in shooting a suspect during a standoff in October that resulted in the death of an armed man, according to Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew Carey.
On Oct. 5, 2015, Rodney Jencsik, 49, allegedly stabbed Dina Marie Heil, 46, to death and wounded her ex-husband before barricading himself in a trailer on Freddie Avenue in Avenel.
Jencsik was shot and killed after pointing a gun at police, Carey said at the time.
In a Use of Force report released Friday morning, Carey said "the level of force utilized was justified...specifically by ignoring commands to drop his weapon, specifically a handgun which could cause serious bodily injury or death."
The report findings also said, "Mr. Jencsik brandished said weapon in such a way as to infer intent to harm; and having already exhibited the willingness to cause serious bodily injury and death to others in the commission of the crimes he had previously committed in the township of Old Bridge resulted in the officer and other officers present having a reasonable belief that in the absence of such level (the officers) were in jeopardy of incurring serious bodily injury or death."
Carey explained in the report that Woodbridge police used several different tactics during the standoff, including negotiations and chemicals to try to get Jencsik to surrender, but he refused.
The report said Jencsik told the officers, "I will kill you," at one point and then "Come in here and I will kill you," at another.
When he finally did come out, he was waving the gun at the officers and ultimately pointed the handgun in an officer's direction, the prosecutor's report said, despite multiple verbal commands to drop the handgun.
He said one officer fired less lethal rounds, but Jencsik was still standing and the second officer fired the bullets into his chest that eventually killed him.
The officers were not identified.
The incident began when Old Bridge police and the prosecutor's office were investigating the stabbing of two people at a home on Englishtown Road that resulted in the death of a woman, Dina Marie Heil, who had a relationship with Jencsik, and a man she was dating, who has not been identified.
Carey said Jencsik was the prime suspect and being sought after he fled from the scene. The description of his car and license plate was broadcast on police radio to surrounding towns and observed by Woodbridge police who tried to stop him, the prosecutor said. Jencsik didn't stop until he got to his home in Avenel where he barricaded himself inside. Police said he was covered in blood and holding a handgun when he got out of his car. That's when Woodbridge police activated their crisis negotiation team and special operations team and the standoff began.
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