School Placed On Lockdown As Police Search For Knife-Wielding Man In Bergen County: Cops

HACKENSACK, NJ — A Hackensack school was briefly placed on lockdown Wednesday during an area search for a knife-wielding man, police Capt. Michael Antista said.

Jean Paul Rubio, 19, of Budd Lake, was charged with multiple offenses after he fled from officers following an incident at a Railroad Avenue home in which he reportedly tried to strangle a woman and bit her lip, Antista said. Rubio also, the victim reported, refused to let her leave her home.

Police responded to the residence on a report of a dispute, and, upon arrival, heard arguing coming from the home. As officers approached, the woman exited the home "in a frantic manner," and Rubio was seen exiting through the rear of the home, Antista said. The victim told officers that he was carrying a knife.

Rubio did not comply with verbal commands from officers and fled through the backyard, prompting a short pursuit through the area that ended in the backyard of a Park Street home, where he was arrested without incident. The knife was also recovered, police said.

Rubio was charged with aggravated assault, criminal restraint, resisting arrest, obstruction, and weapons charges. He was taken to Bergen New Bridge Medical Center for mental health evaluation and will later be turned over to the Bergen County Jail, police said.

The woman sustained minor injuries to her lip and did not require further treatment, police said.