Paterson pair arrested with semi-automatic handgun in stolen car
By Jonathan Greene
Published: January 18, 2019
The police arrested a pair for allegedly riding in a stolen vehicle with a semi-automatic handgun in the area of Fair and East 18th streets late Thursday night, according to police director Jerry Speziale.
Police charged the driver, Bryant C. McLaurin, 22, of Paterson, and the passenger, 16-year-old, with weapons offenses.
Detectives recovered a loaded semi-automatic handgun from the car, police said.
McLaurin was also charged with receiving stolen property, unlawful taking of means of conveyance. The teen was also charged with joyriding, police said.
Detectives John Farfan and Marty Luizzi observed the blue Chevrolet sedan bearing Massachusetts license plates traveling west on Fair Street near East 18th Street at around 11 p.m. Police recognized the stolen vehicle from an earlier bulletin.
Police officers began to follow the vehicle to pull it over. The vehicle came to a stop on Carroll Street near the Broadway intersection.
Detectives were removing both occupant when Farfan observed a gun in the passenger compartment. Both the man and boy were secured without an incident and taken to headquarters for processing, police said.
Police sent the gun the New Jersey State Police Laboratory for examination. The stolen car was returned to its lawful owner, police said.