Paterson police recover two handguns from two suspects on 21st Avenue
By Jonathan Greene
Published: October 8, 2020
The police arrested two men and recovered two handguns in the area of 21st Avenue on Wednesday night.
Leondre Caldwell, 22, and Jonathan Santiago-Velez, 32, both of Paterson, were among a group of four men hanging out on 21st Avenue and Madison Street at around 9:50 p.m.
Police said the four were acting suspiciously next to a gas station.
Detectives Yamil Pimienta and Mohammad Bashir exited their vehicle to investigate.
Caldwell and Santiago-Velez tried to hide themselves behind a parked car and then fled on foot on Madison Street towards 20th Avenue.
Police chased both of them. Police said both suspects discarded weapons as they fled on foot. Both were arrested.
Santiago-Velez tossed the weapon on top of the roof of a business at 100 block of 20th Avenue. Police seized a Ruger 9mm semi-automatic pistol and a Taurus .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol.
Caldwell and Santiago-Velez were charged with various weapons offenses, police said.