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OPRA Request – Arrest of Jerry L. Weikel Jr. on February 9, 2024 (Alleged Gunpoint Hostage Incident)

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Dear Far Hills Borough,

Pursuant to the New Jersey Open Public Records Act (OPRA), I respectfully request the following government records:

All body-worn camera footage, dash camera footage, and rear seat camera footage (if applicable) related to the arrest of Jerry L. Weikel Jr. (35 years old, of Bedminster Township) on February 9, 2024.

The incident involved Mr. Weikel allegedly claiming to have a gun to someone’s head, leading to police response at the Mayfield Section of the Hills Condominium Complex.

Responding agencies included Bedminster Township Police Department, Far Hills Boro Police Department, Peapack and Gladstone Police Department, Bernards Township Police Department, and the Somerset County SWAT Team (though arrest occurred prior to SWAT's arrival).

Officer observations included Mr. Weikel appearing at a front door waving what was believed to be a handgun, later determined to be a power tool.

Charges filed included terroristic threats (third-degree), unlawful possession of a weapon (fourth-degree), possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose (third-degree), false public alarms (third-degree), criminal mischief (disorderly persons offense), and resisting arrest (disorderly persons offense).

Please include footage from shortly before, during, and after officers' arrival; all interactions with Mr. Weikel; the display of the object; the breaching of the front door; the arrest; and any transport if applicable. If multiple officers or recording devices were present, please provide footage from each.

If any footage will be withheld or redacted, please notify me in advance, provide a specific explanation for each withholding, and cite the legal basis. Given the strong public interest in transparency and public safety concerning alleged violent threats and police use of force, full disclosure is essential.

I request that any associated fees be waived, as this request is made in the public interest for purposes of transparency and news reporting. However, if fees are necessary, please inform me first before fulfilling the request.

I prefer that all responsive records be delivered electronically via email.

Please confirm receipt of this request. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Yours faithfully,

woodlfilms

OPRA Form.pdf

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Dear Woodfilms:

I received your OPRA request via email dated April 28, 2025 on April 28,
2025. As such, the seven (7) business day deadline to respond is May 7,
2025 . I am responding to you on the same day after receipt of your
request.

Your OPRA request sought access to the following records:

All body-worn camera footage, dash camera footage, and rear seat camera
footage (if applicable) related to the arrest of Jerry L. Weikel Jr. (35
years old, of Bedminster Township) on February 9, 2024.

The incident involved Mr. Weikel allegedly claiming to have a gun to
someone’s head, leading to police response at the Mayfield Section of the
Hills Condominium Complex.

Responding agencies included Bedminster Township Police Department, Far
Hills Boro Police Department, Peapack and Gladstone Police Department,
Bernards Township Police Department, and the Somerset County SWAT Team
(though arrest occurred prior to SWAT's arrival).

Officer observations included Mr. Weikel appearing at a front door waving
what was believed to be a handgun, later determined to be a power tool.

Charges filed included terroristic threats (third-degree), unlawful
possession of a weapon (fourth-degree), possession of a weapon for
unlawful purpose (third-degree), false public alarms (third-degree),
criminal mischief (disorderly persons offense), and resisting arrest
(disorderly persons offense).

Please include footage from shortly before, during, and after officers'
arrival; all interactions with Mr. Weikel; the display of the object; the
breaching of the front door; the arrest; and any transport if applicable.
If multiple officers or recording devices were present, please provide
footage from each.

If any footage will be withheld or redacted, please notify me in advance,
provide a specific explanation for each withholding, and cite the legal
basis. Given the strong public interest in transparency and public safety
concerning alleged violent threats and police use of force, full
disclosure is essential.

I request that any associated fees be waived, as this request is made in
the public interest for purposes of transparency and news reporting.
However, if fees are necessary, please inform me first before fulfilling
the request.

Due to legislative changes to the Open Public Records Act (N.J.S.A.
47:1A-1, et seq.), requestors are required to answer each of the following
three (3) questions. You may utilize the attached OPRA form or provide the
responses via email.

Under penalty of N.J.S.A 2C:28-3, I certify that

1. I HAVE / HAVE NOT been convicted of any indictable offense
under the laws of New Jersey, any other state, or the United States;

2. I, or another person, WIIL / WILL NOT use the requested
government records for a commercial purpose;

3. I AM / AM NOT seeking records in connection with a legal
proceeding.

If I don’t receive a response within fourteen (14) business days of this
email, or May 16, 2025, I will consider the OPRA request closed.

If your request for access to a government record has been denied or
unfilled within the seven (7) business days required by law, you have a
right to challenge the decision by the Borough of Far Hills to deny
access. At your option, you may either institute a proceeding in the
Superior Court of New Jersey or file a complaint with the Government
Records Council (GRC) by completing the Denial of Access Complaint Form.
You may contact the GRC by toll-free telephone at 866-850-0511, by mail at
P.O. Box 819, Trenton, NJ, 08625, by e-mail
at [1][email address] or at their web site at
[2]www.state.nj.us/grc. The GRC can also answer other questions about the
law. All questions regarding complaints filed in Superior Court should be
directed to the Court Clerk in your County.

Sincerely,

Marina Yoler, CMR

Deputy Borough Clerk

Borough of Far Hills

6 Prospect Street

Far Hills, NJ 07931

Office: 908-234-0611 Ext. 10

Fax: 908-234-0918

[3]WWW.FARHILLSNJ.ORG

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From: woodlfilms <[4][OPRA #75189 email]>
Sent: Monday, April 28, 2025 7:12 AM
To: Dorothy Hicks <[5][Far Hills Borough request email]>
Subject: OPRA request - OPRA Request – Arrest of Jerry L. Weikel Jr. on
February 9, 2024 (Alleged Gunpoint Hostage Incident)

This message was sent from outside the Borough of Far Hills. Please do not
click links or open attachments unless you recognize the source of this
email and know the content is safe.

Dear Far Hills Borough,

Pursuant to the New Jersey Open Public Records Act (OPRA), I respectfully
request the following government records: