Gang Member with Stolen Gun Arrested in Mahwah, Police Say

A Bloods gang member driving through Mahwah was arrested Thursday afternoon after cops found a stolen handgun in his car, Police Chief Jim Batelli said.

Terrance Bethea, 33, of Allentown, PA, was originally pulled over at about 12:04 p.m. Thursday for an obstructed vision violation, Batelli said.

Cops got suspicious after Bethea and the passenger in his car, a woman from Brooklyn, NY, gave conflicting accounts of why they were in Mahwah, police said. Cops also found that his Nissan minivan was unregistered, and had fictitious plates, Batelli said.

After giving Mahwah Police Officer Eric Larsen permission to search the vehicle, Bethea admitted he had a handgun in the center console, Batelli said.

The gun had been reported stolen from a home in Allentown, police said. There was also a separate warrant for Bethea’s arrest out of Mt. Olive, with bail set at $1,000, Batelli said.

In addition to the 9 mm Ruger, Larsen found the gun’s magazine on a shelf under the steering wheel and a small amount of marijuana in the car, Batelli said. 

Bethea was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, receiving stolen property, possession of marijuana, and motor vehicle violations, police said. Bethea was served with the criminal complaints and turned over to Mount Olive authorities, Mahwah police said.

According to Batelli, township cops are now working with the police in Pennsylvania to further investigate Bethea’s possible ties to the Allentown burglary.