On Friday, August 18, 2017 and Friday, August 25, 2017, officers from the Burlington Township Police Department made two arrests and seized two firearms as the result of two separate motor vehicle stops.
The motor vehicle stop on Friday, August 18, 2017 was initiated by P/O Correa in the area of Route 541 and Bromley Boulevard at 9:21 p.m. due to a motor vehicle violation. During the stop, P/O Correa observed a loaded Taurus 9mm handgun laying on the center console of the vehicle.
The operator of the vehicle, a 21-year-old male from Washington, N.C., was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a firearm after it was discovered he had no permit to possess the handgun in New Jersey. Batts was processed and released pending his appearance in court.
The motor vehicle stop on Friday, August 25, 2017 was initiated by P/O Ortiz-Cruz in the area of Route 130 and Woodlane Road at 1:26 a.m. due to a motor vehicle violation. During the stop, P/O Ortiz-Cruz observed that the rear passenger, a 22-year-old male from Burlington, had a loaded, defaced Cobra 9mm handgun protruding from his pants pocket.
The male was arrested, and subsequent to that arrest he was also found to be in possession of cocaine and marijuana. The malewas charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a defaced firearm, possession of cocaine and possession of marijuana. He was processed and transported to Burlington County Jail.