Paterson cop recovers handgun from man in car with Patron, pot on New Year’s Eve
By Jonathan Greene
Published: January 2, 2019
A city man ushered in New Year’s Eve inside his car on Pearl Street with a bag of marijuana on his lap and an open container of Patron liquor on the floor.
Courtney Douglas, 33-year-old, had to cut his solo party short when a police officer searching for a robbery suspect in the area saw him nervously reaching the center of the silver Saturn. He was allegedly trying to hide a Phoenix Arms 25 caliber semi-automatic handgun, police said.
Police officer Mohammad Bashir approached the vehicle in front of 111 Pearl Street at around 1:07 a.m. on Monday. He observed a blue sandwich bag containing marijuana in Douglas’s lap and an open container of Patron liquor on the floor.
Bashir ordered Douglas out of the vehicle. He seized the marijuana and recovered the handgun loaded with nine rounds from the center console.
Douglas was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, police said. He was taken to Paterson police headquarters for processing.