Ridgefield Park Man With Machete Arrested Near Grant Elementary School

A bleeding man carrying a machete near Grant Elementary School in Ridgefield Park prompted a shelter-in-place order Wednesday morning, Oct. 7, according to Ridgefield Park police.

A passerby called 911 around 11:15 a.m. after spotting the man walking on Teaneck Road near the school. The caller reported that the man appeared to be bleeding from his head, police said.

Grant Elementary School was immediately placed into a shelter-in-place while officers gathered more information, Ridgefield Park Police Capt. Justin Tress said. Sgt. Madan, who was already conducting a security check at the school, located the man at the intersection of Orchard and Henry streets, adjacent to the school.

The man, identified as Elmer A. Sutujchitay, 32, of Ridgefield Park, was carrying a machete and was taken into custody without incident, Tress said. Police determined that Sutujchitay had been involved in a dispute with several people over a parking complaint.

Sutujchitay was transported to a hospital in police custody. Several charges are pending. Authorities said there was no threat to the school at any point during the incident. The shelter-in-place was lifted once the scene was cleared.