By: Richard L. Smith
A tense situation took place Thursday afternoon in Orange when a 23-year-old woman, reportedly armed with a knife, barricaded herself inside a residence on the 200 block of Cleveland Street.
The incident began a significant response from local law enforcement and specialized units.
According to preliminary reports, Orange Police responded to the scene after initial attempts to communicate with the woman were unsuccessful.
Believing there may have been hostages involved, authorities called in SWAT teams and hostage negotiators to assist. RLS Media learned that the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and the Sheriff’s Department also provided support during the operation.
Negotiations continued for several hours as officials worked to resolve the situation peacefully.
Shortly before 8:50 p.m., the woman exited the residence without incident and was taken into custody.
She was subsequently transported to Clara Maass Medical Center for a mental health evaluation.
No injuries were reported during the standoff.
The incident remains under active investigation by local authorities.