A 20-year-old Colorado man was arrested after a three-hour standoff during which he allowed his car to crash into the Smithville Wawa, police said.
Galloway Township police were called to the scene just before 4 p.m. for a disorderly subject in the parking lot.
The man, whose name has not been released, was heard telling police to stay back and had a knife in each hand.
At one point, he put his unoccupied car into drive and let it crash into the building, according to the police report. The building sustained minor damage.
Negotiators were on the scene, along with police from Galloway, Egg Harbor and Hamilton townships, members from the Atlantic County SWAT team and detectives from the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office.
"It was definitely a team effort," Galloway Police Chief Donna Higbee told BreakingAC.
Civilians were cleared from the area, and police were able to contain the man to the parking lot.
One person on the scene said he was heard threatening to harm himself but not others.
She said she was proud of her officers who "remained calm and professional."
The "emotionally disturbed" man was taken to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center for evaluation.
"Hopefully he will get the help he needs moving forward," Higbee said. "We never take pleasure in seeing someone in such distress."
He was given summonses for unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story was originally posted at 4:30 p.m. May 23. It has been updated to include the outcome of the standoff and arrest information.
