Cranford Police Arrest 3 Who Had Loaded Guns, Drugs In Car

CRANFORD, NJ — Cranford Police arrested three men after they found loaded guns, hollow point bullets and drugs inside the car on Sunday.

At around 11:02 p.m., Cranford Police Officer Michael O’Neil stopped a 1996 Ford in the area of Raritan Road and Moen Avenue, after observing multiple equipment violations on the vehicle.

When O’Neil started to approach the vehicle, two men got out and ran away, Cranford Police Chief Ryan Greco said.

Inside the car, O'Neil reported finding a loaded .45-caliber Glock handgun, a loaded .357 revolver and marijuana. Two occupants still inside the car were immediately arrested.

A third person was found in the rear yard of a Linden home by police with the help of the Linden Police Department and Union County Sheriff Department’s K-9 Unit.

The three arrested were Taquan Bowden, 23, of Linden; Tashawn Sullivan, 22, of Newark and Kevin Artis Jr., 23, of Edison.

Bowden and Sullivan were charged with unlawful possession of a handgun, possession of hollow point bullets, possession of marijuana (under 50 grams) and possession of paraphernalia.

Bowden was also issued motor vehicle summonses for driving while suspended, possessing a controlled dangerous substance in a motor vehicle, unclear license plates, failure to inspect, unapproved window tint, and possession of an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle.

Artis Jr. was charged with unlawful possession of a handgun, possession of hollow point bullets, resisting arrest, possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia.

All three were transported to Union County Jail pending a detention hearing in Union County Superior Court.

Cranford Police Detectives are still investigating the identity of the fourth suspect and where the firearms came from.

(Image via Shutterstock)

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