NEWARK — A former state corrections officers who was fired five years ago was arrested Friday night on gun charges near West Side Park, authorities said.
Dennis Lewis, 38, of NewarkEssex County jail
During a heated argument between Dennis Lewis Jr., 38, of Newark, and a 34-year-old East Orange woman, Lewis allegedly walked to his nearby 2001 Chevy Tahoe and grabbed a handgun, Sheriff Armando Fontoura said in a release.
Lewis told the Essex County sheriff’s officers, who were on scene trying to calm down the two, that he was “on the job” and showed the officers an altered state corrections identification card and badge, Fontoura said.
Lewis was fired from the state corrections in 2012 for falsifying reports, according to Fontoura.
Officers found a .40 caliber, Smith & Wesson semi-automatic handgun, fully loaded with hollow-point bullets on Lewis, the release said.
He was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of hollow-point bullets and impersonating a law enforcement officer.
Lewis was taken to Essex County jail where he awaits his pre-trial hearing.
Craig McCarthy may be reached at CMcCarthy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @createcraig and on Facebook here. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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