Police officers in Paterson NJ recently arrested a man who allegedly possessed a handgun while driving through the city.
The arrest was made shortly after 5:00 a.m. According to authorities, Paterson NJ patrol cops spotted a motorist swerving across lanes and driving erratically on a local roadway.
When police officers pulled over the suspect s vehicle, a black Ford Fusion with Pennsylvania license plates, they ran a check on the car and learned that it was unregistered. The Paterson NJ cops also learned that the 25-year-old driver had an active warrant for his arrest, so they placed him under arrest.
Police officers also reportedly smelled alcohol coming from inside the car.
While investigating further, police noticed one of the passengers attempting to kick an open container of alcohol underneath a car seat. When the suspect exited the vehicle, police saw a handgun sticking out of his shirt pocket. A subsequent search of the suspect allegedly turned up a black SigSauer 9mm handgun that had been defaced.
The 22-year-old suspect, who lives in Paterson, New Jersey, has been charged with a number of crimes, including unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, possession of a defaced firearm, and resisting arrest. The resisting arrest charge stems from the suspect s alleged attempt to flee the scene after realizing that the police officers could see his handgun.
If the suspect is convicted on the most serious charges of illegal handgun possession, he faces significant penalties. As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5, a person who knowingly has in their possession any handgun without having obtained a permit to carry the firearm can be charged with a third degree felony. A conviction for third degree unlawful possession of a weapon could lead to a sentence of 3-5 years in New Jersey State Prison.
For additional information about this case, go to the NJ.com article, “Man Hiding Defaced Gun Tried to Resist Arrest, Cops Say.”
