Paterson man arrested with loaded handgun after fleeing police and falling
By Jonathan Greene
Published: February 28, 2021
A city man allegedly in possession of a handgun unsuccessfully tried to run from police on Market Street late Saturday night.
Dariel Mercedes, 25-year-old, has been charged with weapons offenses and resisting arrest.
Mercedes was among a group of people in a porch at the corner of Market and Pennington streets, an area that saw an uptick of gunfire in recent weeks, at around 10:50 p.m.
Detectives exited their vehicles and told the group they were approaching to issue ordinance violations.
Mercedes fled on foot off the porch east on Market Street with police behind him. He ignored commands to stop. He lost his footing and fell. A Ruger .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol fell from his clothing and skidded across the pavement, police said.
Mercedes tried to flee again, but was placed under arrest. He is being held at the Passaic County Jail pending a hearing.
Detectives Brian Culmone and Mohammed Bashir made the successful arrest.