Union Co. Manhunt Ends In Backyard Arrest Tuesday, Police Say

LINDEN, NJ - A 21-year-old man was nabbed in Linden following a foot chase through local backyards Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.

Kyeshon Downer, 21, was charged with aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of a child, resisting arrest and related charges after he allegedly pointed a rifle at a man during an argument with a child inside the same residence, Linden police said.

“We simply will not tolerate this kind of violent behavior in Linden,” said Police Chief David Hart. “This arrest is truly the result of a team effort - Linden Police Officers, Detectives, our UAS operators, our Union County partners, and members of the public who came forward with timely and important information – each of them played a role in making this a successful arrest, and I am very proud of their efforts.”

The charges stem from a report around noon of a man making threats inside a home on the 200 block of Grant Street, police said.

After learning that Downer was inside the home with a small child, officers surrounded the home and requested Union County S.W.A.T. assistance. A short time later, it was discovered that Downer had already left the home. The child was located and removed from the home safely.

With the help of Union County S.W.A.T. and Union County Sheriff’s K-9, Downer was arrested in a backyard on the 1200 block of Passaic Avenue.

No one was injured during the incident. The weapon was not recovered.

Downer is lodged in Union County Jail pending a scheduled appearance in Union County Superior Court.