Gun And Booze Found In Car After Man Hits Parked Vehicles In Hoboken: Police

HOBOKEN, NJ — After a Hoboken police officer saw a man slam into parked cars on May 3, police found a gun and ammunition inside, they said.

Police said that just after 5 a.m. that morning, Police Officer Michael Aviles watched a vehicle strike other vehicles on the 400 block of Garden Street, then leave the scene.

A few moments later, Officer Trevor Thomas noticed a vehicle that fit the description, and saw that it had damage to the front right passenger side. He pulled it over on Observer Highway at Henderson Street.

Four other officers came to assist. They detected the smell of alcohol on the driver, police said. They also saw cans of alcoholic beverages on the back seat and floor, they said.

They asked the driver, Jovanny Islas-Perez, 25, of Jersey City, to turn off the car, but he did not, police said — so they turned it off for him.

"When he got out of the vehicle, Islas-Perez took a couple of steps without any sense of direction, and he was placed in handcuffs," police said. "He slurred his words and had watery and glassy eyes."

Police gave him a field sobriety test and determined he couldn't drive safely.

Police found a handgun and ammunition in the glove compartment, they said.

He was charged with possession of prohibited weapons and devices, certain persons not to have weapons or ammunition, unlawful possession
of weapons, and possession of weapons for unlawful purpose. He was also issued summonses for driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, driving with an open alcoholic beverage container, failure to report an accident, leaving the scene of an accident, driving without a license, and driving with a suspended registration.

Police also found out that he had an outstanding warrant from Jersey City for obstruction.

He was taken to the Hudson County Correctional Facility, police said.