FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, NJ (Somerset County) – Two Somerset County men are facing several charges including possession of a handgun in Franklin Township, according to Somerset County Prosecutor Michael Robertson.
Jared L. Washington, 23, of New Brunswick was charged with second-degree possession of a handgun, second-degree certain persons not to possess a firearm, fourth-degree possession of hollow point ammunition, fourth-degree resisting by flight and disorderly persons offense for resisting arrest.
Nasiir East, 23, of New Brunswick was charged with second-degree possession of a handgun, fourth-degree possession of a large capacity magazine, fourth-degree possession of hollow point ammunition and a disorderly persons offense for obstruction by flight.
Both were lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending a bail detention hearing.
On Monday, May 17, at around 2:46 p.m. members of the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force Street Crimes Unit along with members of the Franklin Township Police Department were conducting a “Quality of Life” investigation in the area of Millstone Road in Somerset. As a result of this investigation, Task Force detectives observed Washington carrying a loaded handgun in the area of Millstone Road near Somerset Street. Upon observing Task Force detectives, Washington fled on foot while discarding the handgun in a rear parking lot on Somerset Street, Robertson said.
A Task Force detective immediately recovered a loaded Glock 17 9mm semi-automatic handgun which contained 6 hollow point rounds in the magazine and 1 hollow point round in the chamber in the rear parking lot. The frame of the Glock 17 9mm semi-automatic handgun had a different serial number than the barrel and slide, Robertson said.
Following a brief foot pursuit, Task Force detectives were able to apprehend Washington who actively resisted arrest. He was ultimately taken into custody without further incident, Robertson said.
Then on Thursday, May 20, at around 8:46 p.m. members of the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force Street Crimes Unit along with members of the Franklin Township Police Department were conducting a “Quality of Life” investigation in the area of Somerset Street and Millstone Road in Somerset. During the course of this investigation, Task Force detectives attempted to conduct a field interview with East in the area of Somerset Street, Robertson said.
Upon East observing Task Force detectives he fled on foot. Following a brief foot pursuit, East was detained without incident, Robertson said.
The investigation revealed that East was armed with a loaded Taurus G2C semi-automatic 9mm handgun with a large capacity magazine in his waistband. The large capacity magazine contained eleven hollow point rounds with 1 hollow point round in the chamber, Robertson said.
Anyone with information relating to this incident to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit at 908-231-7100 or the Franklin Township Police Department at 732-873-5533 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ. Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.
