Assault Weapon, Body-Armor-Piercing Bullets Found in Manalapan Man's Home: Prosecutor Says

MANALAPAN, NJ — A Manalapan man was arrested last May with a cache of weapons in his home, including an assault rifle and body-armor-penetrating bullets, Monmouth County prosecutors said.

Officers with the Monmouth County Sheriff's Department raided Richard Cruz's Manalapan home after it obtained a search warrant related to a domestic violence temporary restraining order filed against Cruz.

Cruz, 46, lives on Candido Court.

Inside, they found a trove of illegal, dangerous weapons, including a Bushmaster BR-308 assault rifle, fully operable, which Cruz was unregistered and unlicensed to have in New Jersey. He was charged with violating New Jersey's strict assault weapons ban, a second-degree crime.

Police also found 130 rounds of Smith & Wesson bullets capable of piercing body armor, they said. He was charged with fourth-degree possession of the bullets.

Police said they also found a greenish-brown vegetation in the home, suspected to be marijuana.

Stock image of an assault rifle similar to the Bushmaster BR-308/Wikimedia Commons