Man Fires Gun In Teaneck Street, Arrested After Standoff

Police talked a James Street man into surrendering early Sunday after he fired a handgun in the street and barricaded himself inside his home for more than two hours, authorities said.

Teaneck officers responded to reports of shots fired on James Street around 4 a.m., police said. Neighbors pointed officers to the home of William Huggins Jr, whom police termed emotionally disturbed.

Huggins would not come to officers, opening his door but closing it when he saw them, police said. At one point, Huggins went to the back door, where officers told him to put his hands up, causing Huggins to run back inside.

Bergen County Police Department SWAT officers forced their way inside the house after county and Teaneck police were able to talk Huggins into surrendering around 6:30 a.m., police said.

Sgt. George Molina said officers were concerned about the safety of Huggins’ wife, who was home during the standoff and found unharmed. 

After getting consent to search the house, authorities found two handguns hidden inside, police said. Two .45 caliber shell casings were also found in the street. 

Huggins, 52, was charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a weapon, hindering his own apprehension and discharging a firearm in the township. He was taken to Bergen Regional Medical Center and held on $20,000 bail. 

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