Newark New Jersey Handgun Possession SuspectNewark NJ police arrested a PA man accused of possessing a handgun while driving through the city.

The arrest was made on Christmas night. The Newark Police Department dispatched an officer to stop the suspect after getting an anonymous tip that the driver of a car in Newark’s West Ward had a gun. The tipster told Newark police that the suspect was holding a gun while driving near the intersection of South Orange Avenue and Brookdale Avenue in Newark, NJ.

Newark police later pulled over the suspect’s car in the West Ward after allegedly seeing him commit a traffic violation.

When police officers walked toward the vehicle, they allegedly spotted the suspect tossing an object into the rear of the car. A later search of the vehicle allegedly led to police discovering a loaded .45-caliber automatic handgun in the backseat.

When police found the handgun, they arrested the 31-year-old suspect. The suspect, who is from Easton, Pennsylvania, was subsequently charged with several weapons offenses, including unlawful possession of a weapon. Police also cited the suspect for multiple traffic violations.

If the suspect is eventually convicted of illegal handgun possession, he would be subject to severe criminal penalties. As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5(b), anyone caught in possession of a handgun without a valid license or permit can be charged with a second degree crime. A conviction for second degree handgun possession could result in a sentence of up to 10 years in New Jersey State Prison.

Newark police continue to investigate the suspect. Anyone with information about the illegal handgun possession incident should call the Newark Police Department’s Crime Stoppers tip line at 877-NWK-TIPS or 877-NWK-GUNS.

To learn more about this case, check out the NJ.com article entitled “Pa. Man Caught Carrying Loaded Handgun in Newark, Police Say.”