Rifle Found After Chase In Union County, Police Say

UNION COUNTY, NJ — A Linden man was arrested after police said officers recovered a compact rifle with a high-capacity drum magazine following a chase through Linden early Monday morning.

According to the Linden Police Department, officers were assisting Roselle police investigating a report of shots fired near East St. George Avenue shortly before 2 a.m. on May 25 when they spotted two men dressed in black clothing and wearing ski masks walking on Clark Street.

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Police said one of the men was carrying a black backpack. Officers stopped the pair in the parking lot of 30 Burgers to investigate, but one of the men — identified by police as 25-year-old Kayvon Branch of Linden — ran from officers west along East St. George Avenue.

Police said officers chased Branch through nearby yards before taking him into custody near Walnut Street.

According to authorities, officers recovered the backpack Branch had been carrying and found a compact rifle equipped with a high-capacity drum magazine loaded with hollow-point ammunition inside.

The second person stopped by police was released without charges.

Branch was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, possession of a large-capacity magazine, possession of hollow-point ammunition, obstruction and resisting arrest.

“We remain committed to reducing violent crime and removing illegal weapons from our streets,” Linden Police Chief David Hart said in a statement. “This weapon posed a significant threat to public safety, and our streets are safer today because of the courageous and decisive actions of our officers in making this arrest.”