Illegal Gun, Drugs Found In East Brunswick Motel Parking Lot

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — A New Brunswick man and two others were found with an illegal handgun and half a pound of marijuana Wednesday night in the parking lot of the Studio 6 motel in East Brunswick, police said.

East Brunswick Police Chief Frank LoSacco said his police officers are constantly called to the Studio 6 and Motel 6, which he said are two problem motels on Rt. 18.

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Since January 1 of this year, there have been more than 2,500 911 calls for police, fire or EMS from those two motels, he said, and East Brunswick Police are called to the two motels multiple times each day.

Police officers on patrol noticed a car in the motel parking lot just before midnight Wednesday. The car had violations and officers began questioning the two men inside.

Police officers developed reasonable suspicion to search the car for drugs and the Middlesex County Sheriff's drug-sniffing dog, Jester, was called in.

A search of the car by the dog and his handlers recovered a loaded Glock 43 handgun with a large-capacity drum magazine attached, approximately one-half pound of suspected marijuana, a digital scale, and packaging material, said East Brunswick Police.

Charged were:

Edwin Rojas, 32, of New Brunswick and Kevin Rodriguez, 24, of Bordentown. A third occupant of the vehicle, Kason Cole, a 21-year-old Edison man, was found to have an outstanding warrant issued by Woodbridge. Cole was taken into custody and subsequently turned over to the Woodbridge Police Department.

Rojas and Rodriguez were both charged with:

• Unlawful Possession of a Handgun, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5(b)(1)
• Possession of a Firearm During a Controlled Dangerous Substance Offense, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4.1(a)
• Certain Persons Not to Have Weapons, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-7(b)(1)
• Distribution/Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5(b)(11)
• Possession of Marijuana, N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10(a)(3)
• Possession of a Large-Capacity Ammunition Magazine, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-3(j)

"Patrolmen Edward Mironski and Michael Miszkiewicz demonstrated the type of proactive policing that plays an important role in keeping our community safe," said LoSacco. "Their observations and investigation resulted in the removal of a loaded handgun, a large-capacity magazine, and a significant quantity of suspected marijuana from our community. I commend these officers, as well as the K-9 team that assisted them."

The two motels are "a strain on police resources and a public safety concern," said LoSacco.

This investigation remains active. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the East Brunswick Police Department at 732-390-6900.