Police: Train Passengers Had Loaded, Stolen Gun In Diaper Bag

What began as a fare dispute on a train, ended with police arresting two Newark teens and finding a loaded, stolen gun in the young woman’s diaper bag, according to complaints signed against them.

The man told police he carries the gun “because he is a gang member,’’ the complaint said. The woman said she carried the firearm for protection, according to the complaint signed against her.

Nasir Sutton, 18, of Pennington Street, Newark, and Jakiyah Strothers, 19, of Martin Luther King Boulevard, Newark, were arrested Sunday. Although Strothers had a diaper bag, she did not have a child with her on the train, authorities said.

Sutton and Strothers were charged with offenses including weapons charges, receiving stolen property, and interfering with transportation.

Stretchers is also facing a theft of services charge, because, the complaint said, she boarded the train at the Point Pleasant station and planned to ride back to Newark, but did not pay for a ticket.

The incident began as a fare dispute around 12:45 a.m., and NJ Transit Police were called, said Nancy Snyder, a spokeswoman for NJ Transit.

Transit officers responded to the Hazlet station, where the pair were taken into custody, she said.

According to the criminal complaints signed against the two Newark residents:

The conductor tried to eject Strothers from the NJ Transit train. But, both Sutton and Strothers refused to leave and created a scene. That caused a 20-minute delay and prompted a police response.

Police found a loaded .38 caliber revolver in Strothers’ diaper bag.

That gun was stolen and was purchased from “an unknown man in the neighborhood.”

Records show both defendants are being held at the Monmouth County jail, Freehold Township, with bail set at $100,000 each.