A report of a shot being fired and a man with a gun Friday night in Pearl River turned out to be a domestic dispute over a computer in which a fire extinguisher fell to the floor, according to Orangetown police.
The incident, however, led to a foot chase and a police search in Pearl River becasue a 31-year-old Pearl River man involved with the domestic dispute ran away from police officers and was hiding in the Muddy Creek. The chase led Orangetown police to call for assistance from police in neighboring communities in New Jersey and led to the temporary shut down of NJ Transit train service.
Police said no shots were fired and the man involved did not have a gun. But because the resident of 161 Pearl St. ran through traffic on Route 304 and eluded police he was cited for disorderly conduct and obstruction of governmental administration, violations.
A resident of 161 Pearl St. initially reported hearing a shot and possibly seeing a neighbor in the building with a gun. When officers arrived at the building, police said the man involved with the domestic dispute ran away.
The "shot" was actually the sound of the fire extinguisher hitting the floor, police said.
In addition to getting assistance from other police departents, a police K-9 unit was called in to help with the search. Because of the proximity to the NJ Transit Pascack Valley Line tracks, Orangetown police requested a temporary halt in rail service.
The search involved the area near the KFC restaurant just off Route 304 in Pearl River.
