BERKELEY – A homeless man threatening a family with a hatchet last month has caused officials to again discuss the lack of shelters in the county.
The incident took place at around 9 p.m. on October 11. Joseph Besner, 44, drove to a home on Harbor Inn Road in a golf cart and was threatening the homeowner, police said.
The residents didn’t recognize the man, seeing him through the doorbell camera, and they called the police.
Officers approached Besner, who had a large hatchet and a fixed blade knife on him. They were able to de-escalate the situation and get him to drop the weapons. However, police said he was still angry, threatening the officers, and possibly under the influence of something.
Police said they used an electrical weapon (Taser), then took him to the ground and put him in handcuffs.
There were no injuries reported. Besner was charged with Terroristic Threats, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, and Resisting Arrest.
In recent Township Council meetings, officials have lamented that Ocean County is one of the only counties in the state without a homeless shelter.
“There’s nowhere in Ocean County for them to go, and that’s not right,” Councilman James Byrnes said. In this particular case, he added “Police should know where the homeless are and who they are.”
Members of the public and officials have agreed during past meetings that there needs to be a shelter.
This year, the township’s police department started a program where they can call upon a social worker from a health care partner to help with a subject. The social worker will assess the needs of the subject and will be able to refer them to the services they need. Some of these might be physical needs such as food and shelter. Some of these might be psychological help, drug or alcohol counseling, veterans assistance, or any of a number of other services.
The Besner case is currently being investigated by Officer Brian Flanegan and Detective Jonathan Mulvihill. Anyone with information is asked to contact 732-341-1132 x611. Tips can be anonymous.
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