Posted by : Matthew Nazzaro  On April 22nd, 2025 9:20 am

      

 

A Pennsylvania man was found to be in possession of a loaded firearm during a motor vehicle stop on Raritan Road at Commerce Drive on Friday, April 18^th, 2025.

At approximately 10:33 PM, Officer Rameil King stopped a black 2001 Honda for moving violations in the area of Raritan Road and Commerce Drive.  Subsequently, Officer Brett Mason was dispatched as Officer King’s backup.  During the motor vehicle investigation, Officer King located a loaded firearm.  The suspect, later identified as driver Hezekiyah Bethea, 27, of Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania, was taken into custody without incident.

Bethea was found to be in possession of a loaded 9mm Taurus semi-automatic handgun containing 5 rounds of hollow-nose ammunition. 

Bethea was charged with 2^nd Degree Possession of a Firearm and 4th Degree Possession of hollow-nose ammunition. At the time of this arrest, Bethea was committed to the Essex County Jail pending a detention hearing. 

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Release by D/Lt. Spencer Durkin

s-durkin@cranfordnj.org / 908-709-7346