Georgia truck driver found with loaded hangun, marijuana in Garfield
A disabled tractor trailer in Garfield led to the discovery of a loaded firearm and marijuana on Tuesday. The driver, a 58-year-old Georgia man, was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of ammunition without a firearms purchaser ID card, possession of marijuana under 50 grams, and possession of drug paraphernalia after police searched his disabled tractor trailer that had been involved in an accident on the turnpike (at least according to the driver). The defendant is being held in the Bergen County Jail on $50,000 bail.
Police were called to assist the disabled tractor trailer and became suspicious when the driver gave police false information about a stop in Saddle Brook which was not listed on his driver’s log. Police searched the trailer and the cab and found a marijuana blunt, a marijuana pipe, and a loaded .380 caliber handgun. For additional information, please see the NJ.com article.
New Jersey has some of the most strict gun laws in the country. Even with no prior record, under the Graves Act, the defendant is facing five years in New Jersey State prison with three (3) years to be served before becoming eligible for parole.