Villas Man Pleads with Cops to Shoot Him, Then Bites Officer

Tense moments outside the Lower Township Police Department Wednesday as an apparent suicidal man pleaded with officers to shoot him.

Police say they received a 911 call from a man just outside their headquarters, who asked officers to come outside and shoot him.

Here are the details from Lower Township Police officials:

Police Officers from inside the building as well as officers on regular patrol and detective duties responded to the scene.  Upon arrival to the parking lot area of the police station they encountered a man later identified as a Brian E. Doherty, Jr., age 33, of Villas, NJ.  Mr. Doherty was holding a large butterfly style knife demanding that officers shoot him.

Mr. Doherty refused to drop the knife and attempts to prevent him from injuring himself or others was made by deploying a non-lethal conducted energy device, which met with negative results.  Officers continued to verbally de-escalate the situation making every effort for a successful resolution.  After several minutes they were able to persuade Mr. Doherty to voluntarily turn over the weapon.  Responding officers attempted to take Mr. Doherty into custody but he resisted and a subsequent struggle ensued where an officer was bitten several times by Mr. Doherty. Officers were successful in finally apprehending Mr. Doherty, who sustained a small scrape to his forehead area.

The officer who was bitten was treated for his injuries.

Doherty is being held on a number of charges.