A 12-year-old is accused of kicking in the front door of a Howell, New Jersey, home this week, and the homeowner chased him down and held him until police arrived. Officers examined video and the damaged frame, arrested the boy on a criminal mischief charge, and released him to his father. The boy’s mother later alleged a gun was involved, but investigators say they found no evidence to back that claim.
Police were called just before midafternoon after the homeowner reported an attempted break-in on Princeton Drive. The homeowner told officers he heard a loud bang at the front of the house and went to check what had happened. That call prompted a quick response from local law enforcement.
When officers arrived they found the homeowner on scene holding a 12-year-old on the ground while waiting for police backup. The homeowner described seeing the door forced open and the frame damaged when he went to the front entrance. He then said he watched the boy run toward the driveway and get on an e-bike before taking off.
The homeowner did not let the matter drop and followed the youth in his vehicle until he caught up a short distance away. He got the boy to stop and held him there until officers could take over the situation. Deputies report the homeowner was cooperative and stayed until police took custody of the youth.
At the time of the encounter the homeowner was wearing a T-shirt, shorts, and sandals, and he was not carrying anything during his interaction with officers. Once police arrived the homeowner handed over a video from his Ring camera to help piece together what happened. That footage became a key part of the investigators’ initial review.
Officers said the surveillance from the front door captured the boy approaching, turning around, and delivering a hard kick to the entrance. The impact forced the door open and damaged the frame, according to the footage shown to police. Investigators later examined the physical damage at the scene and noted it was consistent with a forceful kick.
At the house, officers observed significant destruction to the front doorway and frame, which underscored the severity of what the homeowner described. Those on-scene findings matched the homeowner’s account and the video evidence. Police documentation lists the incident as criminal mischief given the property damage observed.
After the homeowner detained the boy, officers placed the 12-year-old under arrest and charged him with criminal mischief. The juvenile was taken to police headquarters and, following standard procedures, was released to his father later the same day. The department processed the incident under the usual juvenile handling protocols.
That evening the boy’s mother came to the station and alleged the homeowner had pointed a gun at her son during the confrontation. She reported the claim to officers in person at headquarters, which prompted investigators to revisit the case files and available footage. The allegation added a new element that police had to evaluate separately from the original break-in report.
Police returned to the scene to review all surveillance and spoke with multiple eyewitnesses to get a clearer read on what actually happened. Witness statements and the available footage led officers to conclude that no firearm was present during the incident. Those on-scene accounts backed up the absence of a weapon in the homeowner’s hands or on his person.
‘At this point in time, no evidence is available to substantiate the later allegations.’ This is the line investigators provided after checking video and talking to witnesses, and it reflects the current state of the inquiry. Authorities continue to treat the property damage and the ensuing confrontation as separate matters to be handled through the proper channels.
Anyone who saw the events or who has information is asked to contact Patrol Officer Elie Lavarin at 732-938-4575, ext. 2722. Officials say community input can help fill in any remaining questions about what took place that afternoon. The department encourages anyone with relevant details to come forward so investigators can complete their review.
