Doctor in Police Standoff Indicted on Weapons, Obstruction Counts

The Atlantic County endocrinologist accused of engaging police in a June armed standoff in June appears likely to reach trial on a flurry of weapons charges.

James Kauffman was indicted Wednesday on two second-degree counts of unlawful possession of a handgun without a permit, a second-degree charge of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and a fourth-degree count of obstruction, according to the office of Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon G. Tyner.

The confrontation stemmed from search warrants executed by the Prosecutor's Office, FBI and Egg Harbor Township police on June 13, at Kauffman's office and house. Investigators said that Kauffman brandished a Ruger 9mm handgun.

A report in the Press of Atlantic City cited anonymous sources who said that he held the gun to his chest. The same article reported that the search warrants were unrelated to the still-unsolved shooting death of his wife in their Linwood home in 2012.

With the intervention of a hostage negotiator, Kauffman surrendered, was incarcerated, and was moniitored in a psychiatric intervention program.

A June 19 request for pretrial detention was appealed June 22, and upheld by a state appellate panel July 31. His medical license was temporarily suspended by state regulators June 30.

Charges are accusations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless, and until, found guilty in a court of law.

Source: Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office