VILLAS — On July 2 at approximately 8:30 p.m., Lower Township Rescue Squad received a call from a female in the 100 block of Evergreen Avenue here stating that a male in the residence was threatening to harm himself with a knife.
The Rescue Squad then advised Lower Township Police Department of the call, after which Patrolman Kevin Lewis was dispatched to the call.
When Officer Lewis arrived on scene, he was advised by the female caller that the subject did not have a knife at that time.
When Lewis entered the house, however, the suspect, later identified as Damian A. Williams, 23, picked up a baseball bat and a Machete type knife.
At that time, Lower Township Police Chief Edward Donohue arrived on scene to back up Lewis and both the Donohue and Lewis repeatedly ordered Williams, at gunpoint, to drop his weapons while the female ran from the residence.
Sergeant Thomas Beeby then arrived and entered the house with a large tactical shield and was able to provide additional space between Williams and the officers.
According to police, during this time Williams kept yelling for officers to, “Just Shoot Me,” and “Shoot me in the chest.”
As additional officers arrived, Williams made several lunges toward officers with the machete.
Beeby discharged a whole can of pepper mace at Williams, driving him out the back door of the residence onto a deck where Williams again swung the knife at officers.
Williams eventually dropped his weapons, but still refused to get down. He was then physically brought to the ground by officers and handcuffed.
The Rescue Squad, who had been on stand by in the area, was advised to proceed into the location to treat Williams and several officers for the effects of pepper mace.
Williams was charged with the following offenses: Aggravated Assault on a Police Officer, Terroristic Threats, Possession of a Weapon, Possession of Weapons for Unlawful Purposes and Resisting Arrest. Municipal Court Judge David DeWeese set bail at $100,000 cash.
Williams was also transported to the Cape Regional Medical Center for mental evaluation prior to his placement in the County Jail. This was the second time within a week in which Lower Township Police Officers have confronted an armed suspect with a knife.
The incident was investigated by Patrolman Kevin Lewis, Detective Mel Hedum and Detective Chris Lambert.
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