VILLAS – County Prosecutor Robert L. Taylor and Chief William Mastriana of the Lower Township Police Department announced the safe conclusion of an armed barricaded subject in the Villas section of Lower Township.
According to Prosecutor Taylor in a release, the accused, Brian Ayres, 28, of Villas barricaded himself in the residence with two juvenile hostages at approximately 1:29 a.m. Oct. 27.
Members of the Lower Township Police Department quickly responded to the scene and set up a perimeter around the residence and requested assistance from the Cape May County Regional SWAT Team, the County Crisis Negotiation Team, and the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office.
At approximately 4:30 a.m., crisis negotiators were successful in convincing Ayres to exit the residence, at which time he was safely taken into custody without incident by members of the County SWAT Team. Ayres was transported to Cape Regional Medical Center to be evaluated. The two juveniles also came out of the residence and were not injured.
Detectives from the Lower Township Police Department and County Prosecutor’s Office conducted a search of the residence and located an air-soft pellet gun that resembled a semi-automatic handgun. Ayres was subsequently charged with possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, endangering the welfare of a child, criminal restraint, aggravated assault, and certain persons not to possess a weapon.
Bail was set by Judge Hilegass at $150,000 full cash, and Ayres will be transferred to the Cape May County Correctional Center after being released from the hospital.
Prosecutor Taylor commended the cooperative efforts between the members of the Lower Township Police Department, the County Prosecutor’s Office, the County SWAT Team and especially the County Crisis Negotiation Team who assisted in bringing this incident to a safe conclusion.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
