Paterson cops bring irate woman with handgun, heroin into custody without incident
By Jonathan Greene
Published: February 17, 2020
An irate woman armed with a handgun and in possession of heroin was arrested on Sunday afternoon without an incident, according to public safety director Jerry Speziale.
Police identified the woman as a 40-year-old Wayne resident. Her name is being withheld based on her medical status, police said. Police officers found the woman in a vehicle while responding to report of a sick or injured person on Straight and Montgomery streets at around 3 p.m.
Upon arrival, police approached the vehicle, but the woman, visibly upset, began to yell profanities at the officer. Police officers observed her throwing heroin to the ground. She continued to act irate and was reaching under the driver’s seat, police said.
Officers grabbed her hands and observed a handgun.
“Gun! Gun!” yelled an officer. The woman was ordered to show her hands. Other police officers responded to the scene and pulled the woman out of the vehicle to the ground and handcuffed her without an incident.
Police seized a black loaded Taurus 9mm handgun with 11 rounds. Police said the woman told them she was going to either shoot the officers or herself. She was placed in an ambulance and taken to St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center for evaluation and treatment.
Five glassine envelopes of heroin was seized from the woman, police said.
Police charged the woman with unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, prohibited weapons large capacity ammunition, resisting arrest by physical threat, and certain persons not to have a weapon.