Loaded Guns, High Capacity Magazines Seized From Speeding Car On Route 17, Police Say

PARAMUS, NJ — Two loaded guns with high-capacity magazines were seized during a traffic stop of a speeding car Route 17 Thursday, Paramus Police said.

Paterson residents Ta’John Edmonds, 20, Tahlil Shivers, 21, and James Dixon, 20, were arrested and charged with possession of weapons, possession of weapons for an unlawful purpose, and possession of high capacity magazines, authorities said.

Just before 2:30 a.m. Thursday, Officer Michael Mordaga pulled over a 2014 Ford Escape traveling on Route 17 South. Mordaga said two passengers in the vehicle were not wearing their seat belts.

"While speaking with the driver, James Dixon, he was visibly shaking while retrieving his motor vehicle documents and nervously stuttering in response to questions," police said. Mordaga noted that Shivers was "overly nervous and breathing heavily" and gave him false information multiple times, police said.

Mordaga requested consent to search the vehicle, which Dixon denied.

K9s Sandy and Austin from the Bergen County Sheriff's Department were brought in and "alerted on the vehicle, leading to a probable cause search," police said.

Police found two loaded handguns with high capacity magazines, they said. They discovered a Glock 17 Gen with a 17 round magazine and a Sig Sauer SP2022 with a weapon light and 12 round magazine.

The three men were placed under arrest and taken to Paramus Police Headquarters, where they were booked and processed and later taken to the Bergen County Jail pending a bail hearing.

Shivers was also charged with third-degree hindering apprehension.