Robert J. Collins allegedly threatened to shoot someone with one of the three stolen guns in the house
A man who threatened to open fire with a stolen gun struck a police robot with a pry bar during a seven-hour standoff in Sussex County before finally surrendering early Wednesday, authorities said.
Robert J. Collins, 34, was charged with making terroristic threats, theft of three firearms, criminal mischief and two weapon offenses, Hoptacong police said in a statement.
Police went to the home on Lakeside Boulevard at 7:55 p.m. Tuesday after being notified Collins threatened to shoot someone with a stolen handgun, authorities said.
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Collins, though, refused to speak with police or come out of the house, officials said. Eventually, State Police were called into assist and authorities sent a mechanical robot inside during the negotiations, police said.
Collins hit the robot several times with a pry bar, police said.
Collins finally came outside around 3 a.m. and was taken into custody, police said. He was sent to the Sussex County jail.
The Sussex County Prosecutors Office, and police from Byram, Stanhope and Roxbury also assisted.
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