Cops Find Loaded Gun In U-Haul, Police Say Both Stolen

CRANFORD, NJ - Two men were arrested after they were found in a U-Haul van with a loaded handgun on Friday, Aug. 25.

At around 5:45 p.m., authorities were tipped off to a vehicle on South Ave. near Centennial while they were using a Flock Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) in the area. Cranford police say a "high-risk takedown" was then initiated on the U-Haul on South Ave. near High St.

Inside, officers found a loaded Glock 9mm semi-automatic handgun with a hollow-point ammunition and high-capacity magazine. Both the gun and van were reported stolen out of Alabama.

Elijah Ortega, 20 of Elizabeth, and Lamarco Brown, 23 of Roselle, were taken into custody without conflict and taken to the Essex County Jail awaiting a detention hearing.

Both men are charged with: second-degree possession of a firearm, fourth-degree possession of hollow-point ammunition, fourth-degree possession of a high-capacity magazine, third-degree possession of a firearm, fourth-degree possession of hollow-point ammunition, fourth-degree possession of a large capacity ammunition magazine and two counts of third-degree receiving stolen property.

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