Ski Masks, Gloves, Loaded Guns Found During Union Traffic Stop

UNION, NJ — Three men were arrested and one ran away after ski masks, latex gloves, loaded guns and drugs were found inside a car they were all in, Union Township Police said.

On Wednesday at around 8:40 p.m. Union Township Police Officers Chris Lensi and Earl Biddy of the Street Crimes Unit saw a car with illegally tinted windows on Maple Avenue, police said.

Police stopped the car with four men inside and smelled marijuana, police said.

While looking for the marijuana, police found prescription cough syrup in cups with soda mixed in and a Highpoint .45 caliber handgun, according to the report.

As police began arresting the men, one ran away.

Police also reportedly found more drugs — marijuana and Promethazine — and two other handguns, a Smith & Wesson .380 handgun and a Ruger .45 caliber handgun inside the car. All of the guns were fully loaded.

Stolen credit cards, ski masks and latex gloves were also found, police said.

Bilal Patterson (the driver), 25, of Maplewood; Isaiah Gavin, 20, of Maplewood; and Daquan Berger, 26, of Newark were all charged with possession of the three handguns and possession of the various illegal drugs in the car. Gavin had the additional charge of possession of the four stolen credit cards.

Gavin was also wanted in East Orange, Irvington, and Newark for other crimes and had arrest warrants from the other police departments.

All three were sent to the Union County Jail, where they will have a bail hearing.

The fourth man, Kenneth Newton, 22, of Maplewood and Newark, who ran away was not found. Detectives and Street Crimes Unit officers are looking for Newton.

Detectives are investigating to determine where the guns came from and are also looking to see if the men fit the description of any recent armed robberies in which the suspects wore similar masks and latex gloves.

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