NJ State Trooper Subdues Man With Knife At Freehold Dunkin’

NEW JERSEY - An off-duty New Jersey State Trooper subdued a man who displayed a knife during a fight in the parking lot of a Freehold Dunkin’, authorities said.

On May 28, Detective Sergeant Michael Nelson of the Troop “D” Criminal Investigation Office overheard two men arguing behind his car in the parking lot of the coffee establishment, the New Jersey State Police wrote in a statement. As the fight escalated, Nelson observed one of the men brandish a large knife and threaten the other man.

Nelson ordered the suspect to drop the knife, but the man retreated to his vehicle. The trooper continued toward the suspect and pulled him from his vehicle, successfully disarming and subduing the man, authorities said.

Members of the Freehold Township Police Department arrived on scene and took custody of the suspect shortly thereafter.

“As a result of his quick and decisive actions, DSG Nelson deescalated a potentially deadly situation,” the New Jersey State Police wrote. “His actions are in the finest traditions of the New Jersey State Police: honor, duty and fidelity.”

The incident took place at Mounts Corner Dunkin' (in between Walgreens and Panera Bread) on West Main Street, a spokesman from the Freehold Township Police Department told Patch.