Man charged after handgun, ammunition found in vehicle at Mount Olive hotel, police say

MOUNT OLIVE TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Morris County) — A West Virginia man was arrested after police found a handgun and ammunition inside his vehicle outside a hotel in Mount Olive Township, according to police.

Police said an officer on routine patrol at approximately 12:38 a.m. July 23 observed a white Ford parked with its lights on in the parking lot of the Holiday Inn Express, 1000 International Drive in Budd Lake.

When the officer approached the vehicle, the driver was found asleep behind the wheel. Police said empty alcohol cans were scattered throughout the vehicle, and hollow-point bullets were observed on the floorboard while the officer attempted to wake the driver.

The driver was identified as John C. Metz, 36, of Moundsville, West Virginia.

According to police, a search of the vehicle recovered a Ruger 9mm handgun and 86 rounds of ammunition.

Metz was arrested and transported to police headquarters. He was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of hollow-point ammunition, unlawful transport of a firearm, and possessing an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle.

Metz was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility pending a court hearing.