6 Arrested On Weapons Charges Following Traffic Stop In Union County

Editor's note: Some of the defendants were mistakenly identified as males by the Public Information Officer. This story has now been updated.

UNION COUNTY, NJ — Three adults and three teens were arrested after police found multiple handguns during a motor vehicle stop in Linden, Captain Christopher Guenther announced Thursday.

Police conducted a traffic stop on Friday, Jan. 27 at around 11:10 p.m. on the 1000 block of Summit Terrace. Officers then observed a handgun laying on the floorboard of the car, and a second handgun was also recovered from the vehicle.

One of the occupants, a 17-year-old boy from Linden, ran from the scene, police said. The other occupants were arrested without incident, according to police.

Officers chased the 17-year-old through a nearby park and several backyards before he was taken into custody on Academy Terrace with the assistance of the Union County Sheriff’s K-9 unit.

Medinah Washington, 21, of Pennsville, Thailah Phillips, 19, and Kenyon Devine, 18, both of Rahway, along with three 17-year-old males from Rahway and Linden, are charged with second degree possession of a weapon, second degree possession of hollow point bullets, and fourth degree possession of a large capacity magazine.

Washington, Phillips, and Devine were sent to the Essex County Jail pending an appearance in Superior Court. The teens were sent to the Essex County Juvenile Detention Facility pending an appearance in Family Court.

"These arrests are the direct result of great, old-fashioned police work, and I am very proud of our dedicated Police Officers and Detectives who work so diligently each and every day to keep us safe," said Police Chief David Hart. "These arrests, and other violent crime arrests over the past several weeks, demonstrate our continued resolve in pursuing violent criminals and protecting our community."

These incidents remain under investigation, and anyone with information is urged to contact the Linden Police Department Detective Bureau at (908) 474-8537.

Tips about this incident or any other crime can also be shared anonymously via email to crimetips@lpdnj.org.