Loaded handgun found in car during Newark stop
Newark, DE — A routine traffic stop for a vehicle equipment violation led to the discovery of a firearm and a large quantity of marijuana, resulting in charges against a Pennsylvania driver.
The stop occurred around 3:19 p.m. April 15 near Elkton Road and O’Daniel Avenue, where officers with the Newark Police Department’s Special Operations Unit pulled over a vehicle for an illegally tinted front windshield.
During the stop, officers reported detecting the odor of raw marijuana coming from the vehicle. A subsequent search led to the recovery of approximately 169 grams of marijuana and a loaded 9mm handgun found in the center console.
The driver, identified as 23-year-old David Sierra of Oxford, Pennsylvania, was taken into custody without incident. Police confirmed he was not impaired at the time.
Sierra was charged with carrying a concealed deadly weapon, possession of marijuana other than a personal use quantity, and a safety glass violation.
He was arraigned before Justice of the Peace Court #11, issued $5,101 unsecured bail, and later released.
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Key Points
- Traffic stop initiated for illegal windshield tint
- Officers recovered loaded handgun and marijuana
- Driver charged and released on unsecured bail