Fair Lawn PD Finds Loaded Handgun On Driver

FAIR LAWN, NJ –A 24-year-old Paterson man faces charges after police say they found him in possession of a loaded handgun during a traffic stop late Monday night.

Shortly after 10:45 p.m., Fair Lawn Police Officer Justin DiGuglielmo pulled over a Nissan Rogue on Broadway at 26th Street after he spotted the driver using a cell phone behind the wheel, Sgt. Brian Metzler said.

While speaking with the driver, Raymond Severino, the officer detected the smell of raw marijuana and ordered him to exit the car for a search, Metzler said.

During the search, police located a plastic container with suspected marijuana residue, along with a Kel-Tee P-11 9mm handgun loaded with five rounds that were hidden inside of a sock in the vehicle’s center console, the sergeant said.

Severino was arrested and taken to headquarters, where he was charged with unlawful possession of a handgun, possession of drug paraphernalia and operating a motor vehicle while using a hand-held device.

He was transported to Bergen County Jail, Metzler said.

Authorities will send the weapon for testing to see if it can be traced to other incidents, according to the sergeant.

Severino was arrested by Ocean Township Police in May 2018 after authorities said he and another man dressed up in FedEx uniforms and stole packages that were delivered to homes.