KEARNY –
Offering yet more proof that no arrest, or traffic stop, is necessarily “routine,” Kearny police last week reported the recovery of two weapons (one of which, fortunately, turned out to be fake). However, another gun disappeared from a resident’s car, which apparently had been left unlocked.
The first incident occurred at 3 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27, when an off-duty Harrison police officer alerted the KPD that an individual he knew to be wanted was walking south on Brighton Ave. near Bergen Ave. KPD Vice officers were in the area and soon spotted the suspect, Justin White, 18, of Kearny, on Belgrove Drive in the company of Shawn Rosato, 21, of Newark.
Ignoring orders to halt, police said, White took off, running east on Patterson St., with two detectives in foot pursuit. During the chase, which ended in short order, he reportedly was seen pulling a firearm from his waistband and tossing it over a fence. When they recovered it, police said they found it to be an imitation 9 mm. handgun.
Nevertheless, White was arrested for unlawful possession of a weapon.
He also was charged with resisting arrest and hindering apprehension and on three outstanding warrants: a no-bail theft warrant out of Saddle Brook; a $10,000 Newark theft warrant and a $289 Bloomfield traffic warrant.
Rosato, who was detained at the scene and reportedly “reeked” of marijuana, was charged with possession of the drug (in two plastic bags) and paraphernalia.
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At 2 a.m., Feb. 28, Officers Jonathan Dowie and David Bush stopped a 2008 Toyota at Sanford and Harrison Aves. for a tail-light violation and reportedly detected a familiar odor. While being questioned, police said, the occupants — driver Joshua Pizarro, 25, and passenger Samuel Davila, 24, both of Bloomfield — seemed “extremely nervous” and were ordered from the vehicle.
In the car, police said, were a plastic bag of marijuana, two Oxycontin pills, and, on the rear seat, a 9 mm. P95 Luger automatic (not fake), fully loaded with 12 rounds of ammunition.
Since neither man would take responsibility for the gun, both were charged with unlawful possession of a weapon. Additionally, Pizarro was charged under the count of “certain persons not to have weapons.” This particular “certain person” reportedly had nine prior arrests and four felony convictions, including assault on a police officer.
Pizarro also was charged with possession of the drugs, drug paraphernalia, possession of a CDS in a MV and the original lighting violation.
He and Davila were booked and taken to the Hudson County Jail.
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As for the gun theft: The KPD said this crime was reported at 11 a.m. on March 1 by a Kearny resident who noted he had parked his 2017 Honda — unlocked — in his driveway the previous night and returned in the morning to find that it had been entered. Reported missing were a .40-caliber Taurus automatic handgun, a loaded magazine of ammo, and $150 in cash.
On its Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/KearnyPolice/?rf=239650102729618, the KPD has posted two photos of a suspect caught on video surveillance.
Anyone with information as to the man’s identity is asked to contact Detective McCaffrey at 201-998-1313, ext. 2824. Anonymous tips are welcome and can be sent to tips@kearnynjpd.org.
