Officers arrested a knife-wielding man who endangered night movie viewers.

Newark police patrolling Elizabeth Avenue in Nerak, NJ, were notified of an incident at an event inside Weequahic Park on 28th July.

Several witnesses said they saw a man with a knife among the gathering of families at a community movie night.

A lady led officers to the offender, who was hiding in an area where numerous people and children were fleeing.

Officers saw Marcelino Canterero, 46, of Newark, with the knife and pry bar in the park and quickly told spectators to leave. Due to the threat of injury he posed to the families within the park, the police also pulled their service firearms.

Officers utilized an orange construction barrel as a personal defence barrier and to get the suspect to down his firearms. Officers used OC spray on him when he continued to grasp the knife and pry bar. He eventually surrendered.

Canterero was taken into custody without incident.

He’s been charged with illegal weapon possession, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest.

Newark Public Safety Director Brian A. O’Hara said: “I commend Officers Nice and Adams for exercising appropriate restraint and applying minimum force during this imminent threat to the safety of families at Weequahic Park. Although the suspect was wielding a knife and a large pry bar in the midst of a community event where children were present, these officers were able to successfully use their de-escalation training, including verbal commands, maintaining a safe distance and calling in additional resources, to safely make the arrest without causing any injury to the suspect.”