FREEHOLD – A 38-year-old man surrendered after a five-and-a-half-hour standoff with police. The man barricaded himself inside his former residence, causing damage, and refused to vacate, prompting a response for the Monmouth County Emergency Response Team (MOCERT), announced Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

Steven Greene, 38, formerly of 58 Society Hill Way in Tinton Falls, is charged with second degree Burglary, third degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, third degree Criminal Mischief, fourth degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, and two counts of fourth degree Contempt.

Greene is currently being held in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in Freehold Township pending his first appearance before a Superior Court judge.

Tinton Falls police responded to a 911 call reporting the man was inside his former residence armed with a hammer and causing damage to the inside of the home. A request for assistance was made for MOCERT and other countywide law enforcement agencies. A nearby school was placed in a ‘shelter in place’ status as part of a temporary lockdown in the area as a precaution, while law enforcement attempted to resolve the situation peacefully.

Greene peacefully surrendered at approximately 7:29 p.m., but not before causing damage to the inside of the property.

If convicted of Burglary, Greene faces a sentence of five to ten years in a New Jersey state prison.  If convicted of the third degree offenses, he faces a sentence of three to five years in prison on each count.  The fourth degree charges carry a maximum sentence of up to 18 months in state prison, if convicted.

The case is assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Kristen Anastos.


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