Man Planned To Fire Gun In Times Square, Arrested On Rt. 46: Cops

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Police in Essex County arrested an Indiana man and detained several passengers early on New Year’s Eve after finding a handgun, marijuana and a person hiding in the trunk of his car during a traffic stop on Route 46.

According to the Fairfield Police Department, when pulled over, Vincent Weaver, 23, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, told officers that he and his passengers were on their way to Times Square in New York City, and that he planned to fire the gun when the ball dropped that evening.

The arrest began at 2:07 a.m. when an officer patrolling Route 46 East allegedly observed a 2017 Toyota with North Carolina plates heading east at 67 mph in a 50 mph zone. After stopping Weaver, the officer smelled marijuana and saw one of the passengers holding an open can of Coors beer, police said.

After three additional officers arrived on the scene, Weaver was asked to exit the vehicle. At that time, he told officers that he didn’t have a valid driver’s license and that there was also a small amount of marijuana in the vehicle that belonged to him for his personal use, police stated.

A computer check on Weaver revealed that he was a wanted person in the state of Indiana and that he should be considered “armed and dangerous,” as he was suspected of possessing a handgun, Fairfield police said.

When police told Weaver and his four passengers to exit the car, they found a fifth passenger hiding in the trunk and ordered him out as well, authorities stated.

After searching the car, police found a plastic bag containing suspected marijuana and more than $2,900 in cash from the center console. Officers also found a stolen, .45 caliber Colt Defender handgun in the trunk loaded with four, “prohibited” hollow-point bullets, as well as a digital scale, authorities said.

Weaver told officers that the gun and marijuana were his, police said.

Police arrested Weaver and impounded his vehicle, then transported his passengers to headquarters for further investigation.

While at headquarters, Weaver allegedly told officers that he and his passengers were on their way to Times Square in New York City, and that his purpose of having the gun was to shoot it off at that location when the ball dropped.

Police released Weaver’s passengers after determining that determined that they “had no culpability with either the marijuana or the gun.”

Authorities charged Weaver with unlawful possession of a handgun, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, possession of hollow-point bullets, possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Photo: Fairfield Police Department

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