Detectives seize three handguns from Paterson streets
By Jonathan Greene
Published: June 21, 2020
Detectives seized three handguns and arrested three people in separate incidents in the streets of Paterson, according to public safety director Jerry Speziale.
Christian Thomas, 33, Keime Porter, 21, and Devin Brown, 18, have been charged with various weapons offenses.
Police said Thomas was arrested on Friday at around 7:40 p.m. on East 23rd Street and 12th Avenue.
Detectives received report Thomas was inside a car with a handgun in the area of 500 Broadway. Police located him on 12th Avenue and East 23rd Street, one block away. Thomas tried to walk away from the car. On seeing police, he began to run north on East 23rd Street towards 11th Avenue.
Police said he had a fanny pack that had the Taurus 9mm semi-automatic handgun inside. As police chased him, Thomas tried to discard the content of the bag.
Thomas was arrested and charged with handgun possession, possession of high capacity magazine, and certain persons not to have weapons.
Porter was arrested on Van Houten Street and McGee’s Alley at around 11:20 p.m. on Friday. He was with a large group at the municipal parking lot in the area. He led police on a chase on Mill Street.
Detectives chased him behind a building. He discarded a bag that contained a SCCY 9mm semi-automatic handgun and scaled a fence. He was arrested a short distance from the area.
Porter was charged with weapon possession, possession of high capacity magazine, and possession of stolen firearm, police said.
Brown was arrested on 16th Avenue and Carroll Street at around 12:30 a.m. on Sunday, police said. He was with a group of people at the intersection.
Detectives exited their vehicles to ticket them for ordinance violation. Police found Brown in possession of a defaced Walther .380 caliber semi-automatic handgun.
Police charged Brown with weapons offenses and possession of defaced firearm.
Thomas, Porter, and Brown are being held at the Passaic County Jail.