By: Richard L. Smith
A late-night police response in Roselle led to the recovery of a stolen firearm, multiple high-capacity magazines, and several arrests involving both juveniles and a young adult.
According to information released by Roselle Police, officers were called to the area of West 1st Avenue and Locust Street at about 11:42 p.m. on Friday, August 22, after reports of a large group preparing to fight.
When officers arrived, they encountered a crowd of juveniles near a parking lot at the corner.
During the investigation, officers approached a BMW at the scene tied to Raied Elsalihee, 19, of West Orange.
A lawful search of the vehicle uncovered a loaded .40-caliber handgun equipped with a high-capacity magazine filled with hollow-point rounds. Police also recovered two additional loaded high-capacity magazines.
A records check later confirmed that the weapon had been reported stolen in Alabama.
Elsalihee and three juveniles — two 16-year-old boys from East Orange and another 16-year-old boy from West Orange — were identified as the occupants of the BMW and immediately taken into custody.
All four face multiple charges, including:
• Unlawful possession of a weapon
• Receiving stolen property
• Possession of high-capacity magazines
• Possession of hollow-point ammunition
Elsalihee was transported to the Union County Jail pending a detention hearing, while the juveniles were taken to the Newark Juvenile Detention Center.
Roselle Police Chief Helder Freire credited his officers for acting swiftly under tense circumstances.