Edison Man Charged After Cranford Cops Find Drugs, Stolen Gun

EDISON, NJ — An Edison man was charged with possession of narcotics and weapon-related offenses during a motor vehicle stop on Centennial Avenue early Wednesday morning, Cranford police said.

Cranford Officers Ryan McSharry and Jason Ingram were in the area of Centennial Avenue and Cayuga Road around 1:14 a.m. when they saw a black 2008 Nissan Maxima with dark windows failing to stay in its lane.

The police pulled over the Nissan on Centennial Ave., near Raritan Road. At the time of the initial stop, the driver provided false identifying information to the officers, police said.

Officers found that Kevin Artis, 27, of Edison, had an outstanding warrant for an arrest outside of Woodbridge. Further investigation of Artis' car found crack cocaine and a loaded .40 caliber firearm, police said.

Police later determined that the gun was previously reported stolen out of Jacksonville, Florida.

Artis was charged with 2nd-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, 3rd-degree certain person not to have weapons, 3rd degree receiving stolen property, 3rd-degree possession of CDS crack cocaine, possession of CDS paraphernalia, and hindering apprehension.

In addition, Artis was issued motor vehicle summonses for being an unlicensed driver, having a suspended license, failing to signal, failing to maintain a lane, having CDS in a motor vehicle and having improper window tint.

Artis was sent to Union County Jail pending a detention hearing, police said.