Third SWAT Response in Bergen County in Three Days

TUESDAY, 19 OCTOBER 2021 - At 9:30 AM a family member of Ronald Vicari called 911 upon finding the 81-year-old "mortally wounded" and laying on the ground next to an ax. A brief standoff between Bergen County SWAT and 21-year-old Jason Vicari ended with his arrest. at approximately 10:20 AM when the younger Vicari exited the home on 24 Beechwood Ave., in Elmwood Park. Vicari spoke briefly with a negotiator before being taken into custody. Jason Vicari, a Wyckoff resident, was handed over to detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office.

"While in custody at the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office, Mr. Jason Vicari uttered that he believed his grandfather was a monster and God told him he would have to switch religions," police said in a statement.

Ronald Vicari, a former Elmwood Park planning board member, lived at his home on 24 Beechwood Avenue for decades, according to neighbors no one had ever seen Jason around the house or in the neighborhood.

Photos and videos from social media show large and heavily armed police and SWAT response as well as Jason Vicari being calmly taken into custody.

This was the third deployment of SWAT forces in three days in Bergen County. Just two days prior, two incidents caused SWAT teams to deploy but both ended peacefully. The events that brought the SWAT teams however were not. 

Sunday, October 17, an ex-convict forcefully entered his girlfriend's home and beat her with a sledgehammer, holding her hostage at knifepoint before eventually being captured by police. The same day a man was transported to Bergen New Bridge Medical Center in Paramus for evaluation after a standoff with SWAT.