Lower Police Arrest Man for Weapons, Threats, Assault

NORTH CAPE MAY — On the evening of Tuesday, March 10 at approximately 8:50 p.m., while on duty, Detective Chris Lambert of the Lower Township Police Department received a call on his cell phone from a subject threatening to kill him.
Lambert believed he recognized the voice as that of Rodney Frazier, 59, of Breakwater Place.
Frazier is well known to the Lower Township Police Department with an extensive criminal history. Lambert arrested Frazier in November of 2008, for Possession of Heroin with Intent to Distribute.
Lambert then called the number back and spoke with Frazier’s brother. He stated that he believed that Frazier was in his bedroom. Detective Lambert advised the brother that he was enroute to his residence to check on his welfare and the status of Frazier.
At that time, Detective Mel Hedum, Detective Lambert and Patrol Officer Brian McEwing responded to Frazier’s residence. After exiting their vehicles, the officers observed Frazier walking towards them from the backyard yelling, “I’m going to kill you! Shoot me, Shoot me!” with his hands behind his back.
The officers drew their duty weapons and demanded to see Frazier’s hands.
Frazier then produced two large fillet type knives, one in each hand, while continuing to advance on the officers constantly yelling that he was going to kill them.
The officers had to back up several times as Frazier advanced on them, while they continually ordered Frazier to drop the weapons.
The officers then discharged two full cans of pepper mace which eventually caused Frazier to throw the knives in the direction of the officers. Frazier still continued to resist arrest and had to be forcibly brought to the ground and handcuffed.
Lower Township Police Chief Edward Donohue noted that this is the third time in less then a year where his officers have been threatened with bodily harm by suspects with edged weapons.
Last summer two incidents occurred, the first at the Villas WaWa where a man with a knife threatened police officers and the second where a man with a large machete threatened to kill police officers. The Chief noted that in all three cases, officers were able to de-escalate the situation through mechanical and physical force in lieu of deadly force, which could have certainly been an option in all three cases.
The Chief stated that this is a testament to our officer’s training and control while dealing with these highly stressful situations.
After conferring with the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office, Frazier was charged with the following offenses:
Aggravated Assault on a Police Officer
Terroristic Threats
Possession of a Weapon
Possession of a Weapon for Unlawful Purposes
Resisting Arrest
Frazier was later transferred to Cape May County Regional Medical Center for treatment of a minor self inflicted knife wound to his chest which occurred before police arrived on scene. He was then lodged in the county jail on $75,000 cash bail, issued by Judge Birchmeier.