Driver Stopped In Colonial Diner Lot Had Loaded Gun, Cops Say

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — A South Carolina man was found to have a loaded gun in his possession when he was pulled over into the parking lot of the Colonial Diner this past Sunday, East Brunswick police said.

Just before 11 p.m. this past Sunday, Nov. 11, an East Brunswick patrolman stopped a car for making an illegal U-turn on Rt. 18 at Arthur Street. Patrolman Nick Mauro pulled the car over into the Colonial diner parking lot and while speaking to the driver, the officer said he detected an odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle.

The officer had the driver, Sirpatrick Edwards, 26 of Varnville, South Carolina, exit the the car and that's when Officer Mauro said he noticed Edwards had a handgun in his waistband. He was able to secure the weapon from Edwards without incident.

The gun was found to be a fully loaded .32 caliber Smith and Wesson revolver. New Jersey has notoriously strict gun laws, and it is illegal to carry a concealed weapon in the state without a permit, which New Jersey rarely issues to the general public. Edwards was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of marijuana under 50 grams. He was remanded to the Middlesex County jail.

A passenger in the vehicle, Terry Haynes, 21, also of South Carolina was charged with possession of marijuana under 50 grams and released on his own recognizance pending a court date.

Exterior of the Colonial Diner from Google Earth