By: Richard L. Smith
A 25-year-old Bridgewater man is facing multiple weapons and assault charges following a tense 34-hour standoff with law enforcement that ended Saturday morning with the suspect suffering a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office.
Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald, Acting Chief of County Detectives Meredith McKay, and Bridgewater Township Police Chief John B. Mitzak announced the arrest of Eric J. Thorogood following the prolonged incident at a residence on Hill Lane in Bridgewater.
Authorities said the incident began Thursday, May 7, at approximately 7:44 p.m. when Bridgewater Police received a 911 call regarding Thorogood.
Responding officers were informed that he was armed with two firearms.
Police attempted multiple times to make contact with Thorogood, but after those efforts failed, the Somerset County SWAT Team was called to assist.
By approximately 10 p.m., members of the Somerset County SWAT Team, Crisis Negotiations Team, and SWAT Tactical Medics arrived at the scene.
Officials said negotiators spent the next 34 hours attempting to peacefully convince Thorogood to surrender while nearby residents were evacuated as a safety precaution.
According to prosecutors, Thorogood repeatedly refused commands to exit the home or put down his weapons.
The standoff came to an end Saturday, May 9, at approximately 6 a.m., when SWAT members entered the residence and encountered Thorogood allegedly armed with a rifle and pistol.
During the confrontation, authorities said Thorogood fired three shots and struck himself in the leg.
Officials emphasized that no law enforcement officers fired their weapons during the incident, and no officers sustained serious injuries.
SWAT personnel immediately rendered medical aid before Thorogood was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and Crime Scene Investigation Unit later executed a Superior Court-authorized search warrant at the residence as part of the ongoing investigation.
Thorogood has been charged with second-degree possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, third-degree possession of a firearm without a serial number, third-degree endangering another person, fourth-degree aggravated assault, and fourth-degree possession of a high-capacity ammunition magazine.
Authorities said that once released from the hospital, Thorogood will be transported to the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing.