Crime & Safety

Resident Allegedly Holds Gun to Worker's Head Near SBHS

Police close down block in Villagio Development Wednesday afternoon after dispute between two men escalates.

A Monmouth Junction man was hit with weapons charges Wednesday afternoon after a contractor accused the man of holding a gun to his head during an argument in a development off of Stouts Lane.

At about 3:15 p.m., police said a 62-year-old contracted worker for the Villagio Development was involved in a heated exchange with a resident of the development. The contractor told police there had been an ongoing dispute with the resident, James Wheeler, 62, over repairs he wanted performed on his home.

As he drove past Wheeler on DaVinci Drive in the development Wednesday, the contractor told police the two men exchanged words, at which time he confronted Wheeler. The contractor told officers that Wheeler then allegedly held a gun to his head while threatening him, according to police.

Officers responded to the scene, surrounded Wheeler's home and closed the block. 

Detectives were given consent to search the home, where they recovered a banding gun used for sheet metal work, police said. A subsequent investigation revealed that Wheeler had been waiting over four months for repairs to be made to his half-million dollar home, according to police. 

Wheeler told officers that the developer and contractor were unresponsive to his requests, which prompted him to confront the contractor.

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Wheeler was charged with making terroristic threats and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. He was released after posting $2,500 bail.

The victim in the incident was unharmed.

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