Barnegat Man Found With Handgun, Cocaine: Police

BARNEGAT, NJ — Police say they found a man with a handgun and cocaine after a struggle Tuesday night to get the suspect out of his vehicle. Hakeem Smith didn't cooperate with officers during a stop, prompting police to remove him from his Jeep, according to authorities.

The incident occurred at about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, when Crime Reduction Unit officers conducted an investigation around Bowline Road. They found a black Jeep driving recklessly and nearly striking other vehicles, police said.

Smith, of Barnegat, continued driving recklessly before police stopped him on West Bay Avenue and Sandpiper Road, authorities said. As the struggle ensued to remove Smith from the vehicle, police say they found a loaded 9mm semiautomatic handgun on him.

The 31-year-old was charged with unlawful possession of a handgun (second-degree), eluding (third-degree), resisting arrest (third-degree), cocaine possession (third-degree), certain persons not to possess a firearm (fourth-degree) and possession of hollow-point ammunition (fourth-degree).

Officials took him to the Ocean County Jail.

"This is yet another example of our officers, who in this case included one of our new officers in just his third week of training, demonstrating outstanding police work to safely resolve a highly volatile situation," said Chief Keith A. Germain.

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