Florham Park Man Charged With Multiple Offenses at Barricaded Residence
Published on December 18, 2013
Acting Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp and Sheriff Edward V. Rochford announce that the Office of the Morris County Prosecutor and the Morris County Sheriff's Office are conducting an investigation into events that occurred on December 17, 2013 on Dixon Drive in the Borough of Florham Park, New Jersey. The investigation resulted in the arrest of Daniel Silvio Fargnoli, 31 years old and a resident of Florham Park, New Jersey. Fargnoli has been charged with one count of the Attempt to Commit the Crime of Murder, in violation of N.J.S.A.2C:5-1(a)-3(a)(1), a crime of the First Degree; two counts of Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4(c), a crime of the Second Degree, two counts of Possession of a Prohibited Weapon/Device (Destructive Device), in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-3(a), a crime of the Third Degree, one count of Attempt to Commit the Crime of Arson, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-1/17-1(a)(1), a crime of the Second Degree, one count of Terroristic Threats, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-3(b), a crime of the Third Degree, and one count of Resisting Arrest, in violation of N.J.S.A.2C:29-2(a)(3)(a) & (b), a crime of the Third Degree.
The investigation revealed that at approximately 2:46 p.m., on December 17, 2013, members of the Florham Park Police Department responded to 66 Dixon Drive to conduct a welfare check on the defendant, which was made at the request of a family member of the defendant.
The defendant was confirmed to be inside his residence at 66 Dixon Drive and when the police attempted to conduct the welfare check, he confronted the police and threatened to kill the police officers to whom he was speaking. The defendant indicated that he had a firearm and a bomb. The defendant then barricaded himself in the residence. After ensuring the safety of nearby residents, numerous attempts were made by police to negotiate with the defendant, who refused to have any contact with them.
During the course of the engagement, the defendant was observed holding a container with a rag sticking out of it. The defendant attempted to ignite the rag. This item was consistent with a Molotov cocktail incendiary device. Thereafter, members of the Morris County Sheriff's Emergency Response Team (SERT) entered the residence. While inside the residence, police observed the defendant standing on the landing of a staircase on the third floor of the residence holding another incendiary device, which was also consistent with a Molotov cocktail. He was observed lighting a rag attached to the device. He was heard threatening to kill the officers. The defendant then threw the device, which was burning, in the direction of the police officers. The substance in the container splashed on at least one of the officers.
With the aid of a police dog, the defendant was taken into custody. The defendant was found to be in possession of a knife along with incendiary devices. While attempting to take the defendant into custody, he used physical force against the officers to resist arrest.
During the course of the defendant's apprehension, an officer assigned to the Morris County SERT Unit discharged his service weapon. No one was hit by any gunfire.
Acting Prosecutor Knapp stated, This Office is conducting an investigation into all of the circumstances that led to the arrest of, and occurred during the arrest of Daniel Silvio Fargnoli. All law enforcement agencies that were involved in the apprehension are cooperating fully in that endeavor.
Acting Prosecutor Knapp also stated, I wish to thank the following agencies and each of their members for the professional response and the swift actions that resulted in the arrest of an individual who was threatening harm to all those around him. Those are the Morris County Sheriff's Office the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Unit, Chief Patrick P. Montuore and the Florham Park Police Department, Chief Darren P. Dachisen and the Madison Police Department, Chief Stanley J. Hansen and the East Hanover Police Department and Director Scott DiGiralomo of the Morris County Department of Law and Public Safety. I especially want to thank Undersheriff Richard Wall and SERT Commander Eugene Fluri of the Morris County Sheriff's Office for their outstanding leadership of this difficult and very dangerous operation.
Anyone with information should please contact the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Unit at (973) 285-6200.
Bail for Daniel Silvio Fargnoli has not yet been set and shall be set by a Superior Court Judge at the appropriate juncture.