7 Hour Standoff Over Shooting Threat Ends In Arrest In Hopatcong

HOPATCONG, NJ — A seven-hour standoff at a Hopatcong home after a man stole a gun and threatened to shoot ended in that man's arrest, Hopatcong police said.

Robert J. Collins was arrested early Tuesday morning following a standoff on Lakeside Boulevard that started Monday night, police said. Collins allegedly threatened to shoot someone with a stolen handgun inside the home.

Police arrived at the home around 8 p.m. but Collins refused to come out or speak with police, police said. NJ State Police Teams Unit also attempted to negotiate a surrender. After that failed, a "mechanical robot" was sent into the home to try to make contact with Collins, but Collins responded by hitting the robot with a pry bar, police said.

Seven hour later, around 3 a.m. on Tuesday, Collins came out of the home. Police searched the house and found three stolen handguns and a pry bar, police said.

Collins was charged with terroristic threats, theft of a firearm, possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, certain persons who shall not possess a firearm, and criminal mischief. He was taken to the Sussex County Jail.

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