BRONX TIMES REPORTER, J BTR ULY 16-22, 2021 11
BY JASON COHEN
A man who was believed
to be suffering from a mental
health crisis caused a standoff
with police in Throggs Neck
as he sat on top of his car outside
of the 45th Precinct holding
a gun.
According to the 45th
Cmdr. Isaac Soberal, at approximately
7:20 a.m., on July
8, offi cers became aware of
a man who parked his silver
SUV in the middle of the intersection
of Lafayette and Barkley
avenues — a block from the
police precinct — and climbed
to the roof of his car armed
with a gun and alcohol.
The cops immediately told
the man to drop the gun, but
he did not comply. Upon observing
his behavior, the police
believed he seemed somewhat
“disoriented.”
Authorities notifi ed the
Emergency Response Unit,
who when arriving at the
scene used ballistic shields as
they approached the back of
the vehicle and tried to engage
him in dialogue.
“The man was unresponsive
and did not offer any explanation
for what he was doing
and why he was there,”
said NYPD Special Operations
Capt. ChristopherGiordano.
Suddenly, the man discharged
a round from his gun
into an unoccupied police
van.
“The man appeared startled
by the gun going off and
laid back on the roof of the
SUV,” Giordano said.
He then dropped the gun
into the car and immediately
offi cers approached and arrested
him. The man was
taken to Jacobi Hospital for a
psych evaluation and his car
was searched and deemed safe.
The investigation is ongoing
and charges are pending.
A man sat on top of his car with a gun across the street from 7-Eleven and the 45th Precinct.
Photo by Jason Cohen
Armed man
causes standoff
near 45th