'Armed And Dangerous' Essex County Man Sought By Maplewood Police After Shooting

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Maplewood police said they have issued a warrant for the arrest of a 67-year-old man in connection with a shooting inside an apartment last Wednesday, and that he could be "armed and dangerous."

Police say they are looking for Cranford Butler of Irvington, who "remains at large and should be considered armed and dangerous" — but that they have impounded his car.

Police say Butler is wanted on four charges: aggravated assault with a deadly weapon (handgun), possession of a handgun without a permit, possession of a handgun for an unlawful purpose, and theft of the victim's property.

Police said that around 9:55 a.m. last Wednesday, a person called them to report that a man who had possibly been shot was outside near Hughes and Jacoby streets in Maplewood.

Police found the man with a laceration, but not a gunshot injury or other life-threatening injuries.

Police determined that the man had been involved in an altercation with another man inside an apartment on Jacoby Street. During the altercation, police say, a .380 caliber handgun was fired in the apartment, but no one was struck.

The gun has not been recovered, but the Maplewood police found and impounded Butler's car a few blocks from his home in Irvington, they said.

"The incident was determined to be domestic in nature," police said. "The involved parties are known to each other. No other persons or the public was at risk."

The police said that they had executed an arrest warrant, in conjunction with the Essex County Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team and the Irvington Police, at Butler's home, but didn't find him there.

"Detectives are working relentlessly to find and arrest Mr. Butler," police said.

Anyone with information should call detectives at 973-761-7913 or email MPALMEREZZI@TWP.MAPLEWOOD.NJ.US.

The caller can remain anonymous.

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