FREEHOLD – A barricaded subject who was armed and engaged in a lengthy standoff with police has been arrested and charged with multiple offenses, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced Sunday.
Brian Piscopo, 46, of Holmdel, is charged with Aggravated Assault, Terroristic Threats, Criminal Restraint, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. The Endangering charge derives from a child being present in the home during the original domestic dispute. The child was not present or in any danger during the standoff.
On Saturday January 28, 2023, at approximately 6:58 p.m., members of the Holmdel Police Department responded to a residence on Pine Valley Court for a report of a domestic dispute. The dispute was reported by a member of the residence who appeared at the police station. Approximately an hour after arrival at the residence, a request for assistance was made for the Monmouth County Emergency Response Team (MOCERT), along with members of the Monmouth County Rapid Deployment Force (RDF) and the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office. Communication with Piscopo was subsequently established and maintained. During the incident, local roads were closed and several homes were safely evacuated by the officers on scene as a precaution.
Following lengthy negotiations, Piscopo was taken into custody shortly after 3 a.m. this morning, Sunday January 29, after which he was immediately taken to a local medical facility for evaluation. Piscopo was subsequently transported to the Monmouth County Correctional Institute (MCCI), where he is currently being held pending his first appearance at the Monmouth County Superior Court.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact Holmdel Police Department Lieutenant Michael Hughes at 732-946-4400.
Piscopo is being represented by Mitchell J. Ansell, Esquire with an office in Ocean Township.
The Prosecutor’s Office and the Holmdel Police Department would like to thank all local and county emergency personnel who responded to the scene and helped bring the situation to a peaceful conclusion.
Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.