Mountainside police standoff ends with attempted murder charge for NJ man

🚔 Police standoff rocks quiet Mountainside neighborhood
🚔 Tom Ronckovitz is accused of firing at officers after hours of failed negotiations
🚔 The 48-year-old faces multiple charges, including attempted murder

MOUNTAINSIDE — A local man has been accused of trying to kill officers, opening fire during a tense, hours-long standoff at a home in a quiet Mountainside neighborhood.

On Saturday afternoon, police were called about a domestic dispute involving a handgun.

Officers found Tom Ronckovitz had barricaded himself within a house on the 200 block of Bridle Path in Mountainside, and police tried for several hours to establish communication with the 48-year-old man.

The residential road runs parallel to New Providence Road, just north of Route 22.

Gunfire erupts in suburban standoff in Union County

Eventually, Ronckovitz began shooting at police and their vehicles.

Two rounds hit an armored SWAT vehicle, shattering a driver's side window and sending shards of glass onto an officer inside, causing cuts, according to an affidavit filed in the case.

Very early on Sunday, officers entered the house and managed to get Ronckovitz to surrender, Union County Prosecutor William Daniel said.

Ronckovitz was alone inside at the time and police recovered a handgun, shotgun and a rifle, the affidavit said.

The response involved officers at the local, county and state levels.

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⚖️ Ronckovitz charged with attempted murder after police siege

Ronckovitz has been charged with first-degree attempted murder, second-degree aggravated assault causing or attempting to cause serious bodily injury, third-degree aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and second-degree possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose.

He was being held in the Essex County Jail pending his first appearance in Union County Superior Court.

Ronckovitz has no previous criminal history, at the superior court level.

The defendant appeared to be "under the influence of drugs or alcohol" at the time of the offense, the affidavit also said.

Separate standoff in Warren County in August

Nearly two months ago in Warren County, police dealt with a lengthy standoff involving a 50-year-old man.

Ian Walker, of Phillipsburg, was accused of physically assaulting and threatening a victim and then refusing to leave a home in Pohatcong Township.

Police responded on Aug. 29 at 4:45 a.m. and six hours later, after repeated tries at making contact, Walker came out. Police recovered various firearms and ammunition from the home.

In that case, Walker was charged with fourth-degree aggravated assault, third-degree terroristic threats and several other counts.

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