A resident also anonymously surrendered a weapon Monday night
NEWARK -- Two people, including a juvenile, were arrested Monday night on weapons charges.
The arrests were made by members of the gang unit and the city's violence reduction initiative, which includes personnel from the State Police, FBI and the Essex County sheriff's and prosecutor's offices.
Those personnel were patrolling near 15th Avenue and 16th Street around 8 p.m. when they smelled marijuana coming from a parked car, a department spokesman, Sgt. Ron Glover, said. The passenger, a 16-year-old, appeared nervous and was seen moving a gun from between the seat and center console to his waistband, Glover said. The teen was charged with weapons offenses including unlawful possession of a weapon, a loaded .40-caliber Smith and Wesson reported stolen in 2013.
As some personnel handled that arrest, the rest continued patrolling, eventually going to Clinton and Milford avenues after receiving an anonymous tip of someone in the area with a gun. Police set up surveillance in the area until they spotted a man matching the description provided by the tipster. When officers approached, the man, Eric Pressley, 21, pulled a weapon from his waistband and ran, Glover said. Pressley, who was caught after a brief chase, tried to discard the weapon as he fled, Glover added.
Pressley was charged with unlawful possession of a handgun and other offenses.
Earlier Monday, before the arrests, a resident anonymously surrendered an unloaded .32-caliber handgun to someone from Mayor Ras Baraka's critical response team. The gun was later turned over to Det. Sgt. Joseph Conzentino, commander of the Violence Reduction Initiative.
"The citizens have several ways that they can report crimes. They have the anonymous crime stopper's tip line, they have the police department directly and they also have the mayor's critical response team who are out in the field with the units most evenings," said Police Director Eugene Venable.
"Any way they choose to report, I'm thrilled that they are. Because of the citizens' obvious commitment to abating crime, we are removing guns from our city streets in record numbers before they can be used in criminal activity."
Police are asking that anyone with information about this or any other crime call the department's 24-hour Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at 877 NWK-TIPS (877 695-8477) or NWK-GUNS (877 695-4867).
Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @PaulMilo2. FindNJ.com on Facebook
