Thanksgiving snub behind man's machete threat, police say

NEW MILFORD, N.J. -- Authorities say a northern New Jersey man used a machete to threaten a family who excluded him and his son from their Thanksgiving Day celebrations.

New Milford police tell NJ.com that 48-year-old Joseph Hoo, of Upper Montclair, was charged with weapons offenses and making terroristic threats.

Police responding to the family's home at around 2 p.m. Thursday stopped a van leaving the residence. Police say Hoo and his 18-year-old son were in the vehicle, and officers soon found an 18-inch machete and two baseball bats inside the van.

Hoo was released on his own recognizance but ordered to not have contact with the family.

A telephone number for Hoo couldn't be located Saturday. It wasn't clear if he had retained an attorney.