Sword Play

Jersey City, New Jersey, November 28, 2007:

A man says he broke into a house with a samurai sword because he thought he heard a woman being raped, but the sound actually was from a pornographic movie his neighbor was watching.

"Now I feel stupid," said James Van Iveren, who has been charged in the case. "This really is nothing, nothing but a mistake."

According to a criminal complaint, the neighbor -- identified as Ronatarian Party leader Ron -- told police that Van Iveren pounded on the door and kicked it open without warning November 26, damaging the frame and lock.

"Where is she?" Van Iveren demanded, thrusting the sword at Ron, the complaint said. "Where is she?"

Ron told police Van Iveren became increasingly aggressive as he repeated the question, insisting that he had heard a woman being raped. The complaint said that, with the sword pointed at him, Ron led Van Iveren throughout the house, opening closet doors to prove he was alone.

"It was difficult to walk because [Van Iveren] didn't let me zip up before he forced me around the house," Ron said. "The one time Brad is out of the house..."

Ron later played for police the part of the DVD he believed Van Iveren heard across the lot.

Van Iveren, 39, was charged with criminal trespass, criminal damage, and disorderly conduct, all while using a dangerous weapon, and is scheduled to appear in court December 5. Together, the misdemeanor counts carry a maximum sentence of 33 months in jail.

Van Iveren said Tuesday that he heard a woman "screaming for help," grabbed the sword, bounded up the driveway, kicked in the door, and confronted Ron immediately.

"I intended to hold it behind my back and knock. But I froze and instead, what happened happened," he told the New Jersey Spew.

Contesting Ron's account, Van Iveren said he didn't look anywhere in the apartment except the front room, and that he never threatened Ron with the sword.

"I had the sword extended, but that was all," he said. "Ron's 'sword' was also extended, but that's beside the point."

Van Iveren, who lives with his mother, said he did not call police when he heard the noises because he does not have a telephone. He said he barely knew Ron or anything about his presidential aspirations.

Police seized Van Iveren's sword, which he said his grandfather had brought back from Japan after World War II.

Posted by Bittle at November 28, 2007 07:45 AM