VILLAS — On June 29 at approximately 5:30 p.m., Lower Township Police Department received a call from the manager of the Villas WaWa convenience store reporting a subject inside the store screaming at customers.
According to a police report, while officers were en route to this call the manager called back and reported that the suspect was now threatening customers with a knife.
During that time, Officer Michael Marriner, a uniformed New Jersey State Corrections Officer, was inside the WaWa Store.
Marriner advised all customers to vacate the store and attempted to keep the subject, later identified as Robert B. Mitchell, 40, of Star Avenue in Villas, calm. However at one point, Mitchell lunged towards Marriner with the knife.
Lower Township Police Officers Kevin Lewis and Michael lames, entered the WaWa through a side door where they immediately ordered Mitchell at gun point, to drop the knife.
Mitchell was holding the knife in his pocket, but refused to remove his hand from his pocket. He eventually threw the knife on the ground, but refused to comply with the officer’s orders to place his hands on his head.
Lower Township Police Officer Eric Coombs entered the WaWa Store and was able to tackle Mitchell from behind.
The Lower Township Rescue Squad also responded to the WaWa Store for a female employee who was experiencing chest pains as a result of the incident.
Mitchell was transported to the Lower Township Police Department and charged with the following offenses aggravated assault of a uniformed officer, weapons offenses and terroristic threats.
Municipal Court Judge, David DeWeese, set bail at $100,000 cash. Lower Township Police then transported Mitchell to Cape May Regional Medical Center for a mental evaluation.
While at the hospital Mr. Mitchell became highly combative again and a Middle Township Police Officer responded to the hospital to assist the Lower Township Police Officer in guarding Mitchell.
Lower Township Police Chief Edward Donohue stated, “I credit Correction Officer Marriner’s actions in the store by evacuating customers and attempting to calm the suspect down and my officers for the quick response and rapid intervention and termination of this incident.”
This is not the first time that the Lower Township Police Department have dealt with Mitchell.
On March 27, 2007, Mitchell pointed a shotgun at Lower Township police officers who had responded to his residence for a “Check the Well Being” call. After a brief stand off, Mitchell was arrested at the scene of that incident.
Dennisville – As a parent of a Tech student it would be great if the school would update their staff directory. So many old staff still listed and no new teachers listed. What gives?
