Detectives arrested three people and seized three loaded semi-automatic handguns during the weekend, according to police directory Jerry Speziale.
Police charged city residents Kas Mallory, 19, and, Weldon Mickle, 26; and Dejanira Jose, 22, of Passaic City, with various weapons related offenses.
Detectives arrested Mallory on Friday when he was among a group of people drinking on Carroll and Governor Streets at about 11:30 p.m. He began to run when officers got out of their vehicles to issue tickets.
Mallory fled towards Governor Street on foot and discarded a black handgun, said police. He was captured on 12th Avenue. Police recovered the 9 mm semi-automatic handgun he allegedly dropped.
Detectives charged him with weapons charges, receiving stolen property, and obstruction of governmental function.
Mickle and Jose were arrested on Saturday at about 1:30 a.m. as both were with a large group inside Montgomery Park. When officers got out of their vehicles, the group began to scatter; Mickle got into a car with an open container of alcohol and began to drive away, said police.
Police stopped the vehicle and found he had a .380 caliber semi-automatic handgun. Other occupants of the car were removed. Jose allegedly had a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun previously reported stolen, according to police.
Mickle was charged with weapons possession, certain persons not to have a firearm, possession of armor piercing ammo, and possession of defaced firearm, said police.
Jose was charged with weapons possession, having armor piercing bullets, and receiving stolen property.
Police worked with the New Jersey State Police on the special detail that led to the arrests and weapons. The weapons are being submitted to state police for ballistics lab examination.