DWI, Weapons Charges Filed Against 3 Men In Cranford: Police

UNION COUNTY, NJ — Three men from Essex and Union County were arrested on Tuesday for multiple weapons offenses after Cranford Police found they committed several motor vehicle violations.

Cranford Police said Officer Antonio Bellomo observed a white 2021 Dodge commit multiple motor vehicle violations in the area of North Avenue at the Garden State Parkway entrance ramp at about 10:46 p.m. on Tuesday. The officer eventually found that one man was driving while intoxicated and a loaded firearm was in the passenger side of the car.

Bellomo identified the driver as a 34-year-old man from Orange and the passengers as a 31-year-old man from Elizabeth and a 41-year-old man from Roselle, according to police.

After conducting a sobriety test, the driver was arrested for driving while intoxicated, police said.

One of the passengers was also arrested for an active criminal warrant out of Rahway, police said.

Police then searched the Dodge and discovered a loaded firearm in the passenger compartment of the vehicle. Bellomo placed the remaining passenger under arrest. The three men were all charged for possessing a loaded Taurus 9mm handgun, police said.

The driver was ultimately charged with second-degree possession of a firearm, second-degree certain persons not to possess firearms, driving while intoxicated and multiple motor vehicle violations, according to police.

Police said the other two passengers were each charged with second-degree possession of a firearm, and second-degree certain persons not to possess firearms.

At the time of this arrest, all three were awaiting commitment to the Union County Jail pending a detention hearing, police said.