Long Valley Man Pointed Assault Rifle At Boys For 'Being Loud': Cops

Long Valley, N.J. – A Washington Township resident pointed an assault rifle at three boys allegedly making too much noise outside the man’s residence Thursday night, police announced.

At 7:10 p.m. three juveniles reported to Cpl. David Marut and Officer Frank Giaquinto of an altercation they had with a man roughly 30 minutes earlier in Hasting Square, Lt. Doug Compton said.

The boys told officers that one of the kids sneezed outside of a residence and a man approached them and told them to stop making noise, Compton said.

The boys then told police the same man later opened a window of his residence and pointed a gun at them, Compton said.

Police learned the homeowner was James Appis, 44, and approached his home but were unable to make contact with him. While on scene police located Appis in a vehicle heading back toward his residence, and he was removed from his car and later taken to Washington Township Police Headquarters.

Police obtained a search warrant for Appis’s home, which turned up a Rugar 22 caliber rifle with a high-capacity magazine that allowed for 25 rounds of ammunition, Compton said. Both the rifle and magazine were empty, Compton said.

Appis was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, unauthorized person having a weapon, possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of an assault weapon, and illegal possession of ammunition magazine.

Appis was taken to Morris County Correctional Facility in lieu of $50,000 bail with a 10-percent option.