EVESHAM — A 54-year-old man from the Marlton section is facing serious criminal charges after police say he fired his gun at officers and almost blew up his neighborhood.

Police were called May 24 to Jeffrey R. Wass' apartment on North Maple Avenue after a maintenance worker had gone inside to check on an odor of natural gas.

Police say the worker found the stove burners running but unlit, and he found Wass unconscious on the couch.

After shutting off the stove, the worker called PSE&G to turn off the gas to the apartment and called police.

When police arrived, they said they made verbal contact with him through his doorway but Wass ordered them not to enter.

When an officer asked Wass to answer his telephone, he fired a gun instead.

Police then sent a robot into the apartment, which allowed authorities to see that Wass was again passed out on the couch.

Police said they found a 9mm pistol in the residence after they arrested him.

Wass was charged with second- and third-degree aggravated assault, second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon and possession for unlawful purpose, third-degree certain persons not to have firearms, and fourth-degree causing risk of widespread injury.

A Superior Court judge sitting in Mount Holly ordered Wass held without bail.

Sergio Bichao is deputy digital editor at New Jersey 101.5.

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