Crime & Safety

Belleville Cops Recover Loaded Gun, Arrest Teen

Belleville police apprehended an East Orange man and an Irvington teen after allegedly observing them "looking into motor vehicles."

Belleville, NJ – Belleville police apprehended an East Orange man and an Irvington teen in late March after allegedly observing them “looking into motor vehicles.”

According to the Belleville Police Department, officers saw three “suspicious” males walking down Eugene Place around 5:36 a.m. on March 27.

When police stopped the suspects for further investigation, one allegedly took off running and the other two suspects allegedly refused to stop when officers approached.

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At that time one of the suspects allegedly reached into his waistband, ignored officers’ commands to remove his hands, and threw a dark-colored object towards a nearby sewer grate, authorities said.

Additional officers soon arrived on the scene and secured the two males, then retrieved the thrown object, which turned out to be an allegedly stolen, loaded, 9 mm handgun, police stated.

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Authorities charged a 16-year-old Irvington teen with obstruction of justice, possession of weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, receiving stolen property and defacement of a firearm.

Police transported the teen to a local youth house, authorities said.

The second suspect, a 20-year-old man from East Orange, was charged with obstruction of justice.

An open investigation was maintained for the third suspect who fled the scene, police said.

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