An investigation by the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office has found that the use of force by an Old Bridge police officer in the death of an elderly resident in January was justified.
OLD BRIDGE -- An investigation by the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office has found that the use of force by an Old Bridge police officer in the death of an elderly resident in January was justified.
The Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office issued a report Monday detailing the findings of its investigation into the shooting death of Talbot Schroeder, 75, on Jan. 14, 2015 at Schroeder's home on 40 Cedar Grove Place in Old Bridge.
The report said the use of force was justifiable specifically because Schroeder repeatedly ignored commands to drop his knife and threatened the officer with it, having already exhibited a willingness to use it by slitting his wrists and stabbing himself.
The officer, the report said, was forced into a position in which he could not retreat.
The incident began when a 911 call came in at 5:59 p.m. on Jan. 14, 2015 for medical assistance for an individual with a knife who had reportedly attempted suicide by cutting his wrists.
"During the call, dispatchers could hear yelling and screaming in the background, references to a knife, and an additional report that the subject had just stabbed himself in the stomach," who shared it with the two officers sent to the house, according to the report.
When the two officers arrived, one entered the house while the other retrieved a first aid kit, the report said.
The first officer was directed to a downstairs room where he encountered Schroeder who "was seated on the floor several feet away with a knife in his right hand."
The report said the officer ordered Schroeder to drop the knife, "to which he replied 'No," and made a motion as if to throw the knife in the officer's direction," the report said.
The officer, who was not identified in the report, retreated to the stairwell for cover. The report said Schroeder stood up and "began walking toward the officer, brandishing the knife at head level."
The report said the officer "gave Schroeder repeated orders to drop the knife."
"Having no avenue of retreat at this point, (the officer) fired his duty weapon one time, striking Schroeder in the chest," the report said.
The second officer went into the home and immediately heard the first officer's vocal commands to drop the knife, the report said. He moved toward the sounds of the first officer's voice and saw the first officer at the bottom of the stairs, against the wall with his weapon drawn.
"From his vantage point in the foyer, he could not see Talbot Schroeder," the report said. "Before officer #2 could advance further, officer #1 fired one shot. Officer #2 immediately notified police headquarters of the shot fired and requested first aid."
The report said the investigation into the shooting determined that prior to the original 911 call being made, Schroeder had drawn a knife and had attempted to strike his wife, who suffered lacerations to her hand and face. She was able to flee upstairs and awaken her son, who upon going downstairs discovered his father on the floor, actively bleeding from lacerations to both his wrists, the report said.
Schroeder refused to give the knife to his son and reportedly pointed it in his direction when the son tried to take it from him, the report said. It was during this exchange that 911 had been called.
Both Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew Carey and the N.J. Attorney General's Office reviewed the investigation report.
Sue Epstein may be reached at sepstein@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @susan_epstein. Find NJ.com on Facebook.