Police – Man threatened police with knife before shooting

HACKENSACK, N.J. (AP) -- A Hackensack man on probation threatened police officers with a large knife when they came to check on him after missing an appointment Thursday, leading officers to open fire and fatally wound him, authorities said.

Elvin Diaz pulled the "very large" knife on three officers and they then opened fire, Hackensack police Director Michael Mordaga told The Record newspaper.

"It appears that he put the officers in a situation where they had no choice" Mordaga said.

The three officers were taken to the hospital to be treated for shock; Mordaga said they were distraught and upset.

Bergen County Prosecutor Jim Molinelli said a kitchen cleaver was uncovered at the scene of the shooting, but further investigation is needed.

He said the Bergen County Probation Office asked the police to check on Diaz.

Diaz's criminal history includes charges of arson, narcotics, aggravated assault on a police officer and resisting arrest.

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