Loaded Gun Seized In Secaucus Motor Vehicle Stop, Police Say

SECAUCUS, NJ — A car stop for tinted windows Sunday morning in Secaucus resulted in police saying they found a loaded illegal handgun and marijuana in the car.

The man, Darrion Pierce, 25 of Jersey City, was not licensed to have the gun, said Secaucus police.

At 10:08 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 18, Secaucus police stopped a car on Secaucus Road for having tinted windows and not bearing a front license plate. It is illegal to tint front side windows in New Jersey.

After talking to the driver and running the plates, Secaucus police said they learned there was a fictitious license plate affixed to the rear of the car and also that the driver, Pierce, was unlicensed.

Police said they detected an odor of raw marijuana emanating from the car. It was searched, and a quantity of suspected marijuana along with drug paraphernalia was seized. Additionally, a loaded Smith & Wesson revolver was also seized during the search.

Pierce was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a handgun, certain persons not to possess a firearm, marijuana possession and other charges, as well as motor vehicle offenses.

Secaucus Police Chief Dennis Miller cited the arrest as an example of how minor driving violations (such as tinted windows) can lead to bigger alleged crimes.

“The diligent work and proactive enforcement of the law by police officers assigned to the Patrol Division is vital in keeping the Secaucus community safe,” Chief Miller said. “This is another example of how proactively enforcing our state’s laws will lead to seizing illegal firearms.”