Man Arrested, Released After Allegedly Threatening Bergen County Family, Police Say

GLEN ROCK, NJ — A Long Island man was charged and released in late August after allegedly threatening the lives of a local family, police said.

John D. Joyce, 48, of Huntington Station was charged on Aug. 20 by Det. Sgt. Jim Calaski with one count of third-degree terrorist threats, said the Glen Rock police on Monday.

They said the charge came after a report of "threats made to the lives of the resident and their family stemming from the collection of funds from a financial matter."

Police said they were given evidence to show that he "intended to carry out these threats."

Police noted that Joyce "remains free on their own recognizance in accordance with bail reform," to await an appearance before Central Judicial Processing at the Superior Court in Hackensack this Friday, Sept. 13.

Then-Gov. Chris Christie signed bail reform measures into law in 2014 and 2017, meant to keep people accused of violent crimes from paying bail to get out of jail, and to allow those accused of non-violent crimes to be released without having to sit in jail.

But the results of the measure have been criticized by some law in enforcement over the years. Read more about that here.

Warrants Issued

In other police news, last month, a warrant was issued for Brian McNeill, 42, of Passaic, on a shoplifting charge. Police says that on May 25, he left Bottle King Liquors on Prospect Street, taking $99.98 worth of alcohol without paying. Police said he "remains a fugitive, [and] the warrant has been entered into NCIC."

Matthew T. Emerson, 36, of Fair Lawn, was charged by Det. Lucas Doney with defiant tresspassing and shoplifting. Police said the charges were the result of an Aug. 19 incident at Bottle King in which he took $107 of alcohol without paying.

Emerson was arrested on Sept. 6 and released on his own recognizance to await an appearance in Glen Rock Municipal Court, police said.

"Mr. Emerson had been previously banned from the store due to past shoplifting incidents," police said.

During the period between Sept. 2 and 8, members of the GRPD handled 405 calls for service, they said.