Robin Road resident taken into custody after standoff

By Audrey Levine Staff Writer
   HILLSBOROUGH — A Robin Road resident was transported to Somerset Medical Center for evaluation today (Thursday) after a two-and-a-half hour standoff in his home that later resulted in the seizure of eight weapons.
   Police responded to a call at 2:54 a.m. from the wife of 55-year-old Richard Cooper that he was in his house with a hunting knife.
   When they arrived, Mr. Cooper was outside his home, but retreated inside when he saw the officers.
   Hillsborough police were then told by Mr. Cooper’s wife that he also had a rifle and handgun in his residence, according to Somerset County Prosecutor Wayne Forrest. Mr. Forrest did not indicate why Mr. Cooper’s wife had called police initially.
   While waiting for the arrival of the Somerset County Emergency Response Team, Mr. Cooper exited his apartment and was told by police to surrender, Mr. Forrest said. Mr. Cooper refused, shouting obscenities at the officers and barricading himself back inside his residence.
   ”He refused to respond to initial commands,” Mr. Forrest said, “and the wife was locked outside the home prior to the police arriving.”
   Members of the SWAT Team, along with Hostage Crisis Negotiators, evacuated residents from nearby apartments.
   ”We always evacuate surrounding dwellings,” Mr. Forrest said. “The wife had been saying that her husband had weapons, and that could jeopardize the people’s safety.”
   No one was injured during the incident, Mr. Forrest said.
   Mr. Forrest said Hostage Crisis Negotiators spoke with Mr. Cooper, who then came out of his residence and was taken into custody at 5:35 a.m.
   Inside Mr. Cooper’s home, police found a .22-caliber hunting rifle, a .38-caliber Derringer pistol, four hunting bows with arrows, two hunting knives and ammunition.
   Mr. Forrest said Mr. Cooper has not yet been charged in the incident.