Police arrested three Newark residents Friday in Linden after a car stop lead to the discovery of an illegal handgun and marijuana inside the vehicle, police said.
According to police, on Friday at approximately 12:34 a.m., Linden officers Michael Olbrys and Michael Rizzo were on patrol when they observed a silver Ford Mustang travelling at a high rate of speed and weaving in and out of traffic heading east on E. St. George Avenue.
Officers pulled the vehicle over on the 1800 block of E. St. George Avenue.
While speaking to the driver, later identified as Nicole A. Baxter, the officers smelled the odor of marijuana coming from the car’s interior and asked the three occupants to exit the vehicle.
The officers observed an open pocketbook on the center console with the butt of a handgun sticking out in plain view. The officers seized the gun - a Raven .25 caliber - loaded with six rounds of ammunition.
Baxter, 29, Kaseem K. Parker, 29, and Danlaye M. Bennett, 27, all of Newark, were placed under arrest.
A further search of the vehicle and occupants revealed two clear bags of suspected marijuana.
All three were charged with unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a controlled dangerous substance.
Parker was also charged with certain persons not to possess weapons.
Baxter was charged with motor vehicle offenses of careless driving, driving with a suspended license, having an expired insurance card, tinted windows, and operating a vehicle while in possession of CDS.
Baxter also had a contempt warrant out of Union Twp. and Bennett had a contempt warrant out of Newark.
Bail was set at $100,000 for Kaseem Parker, $40,000 for Nicole Baxter, and $30,000 for Danlaye Bennett.
All were taken to the Union County Jail pending a court appearance set for January 5.