Police seized this handgun that they later discovered had been stolen out of Georgia. (Kenilworth Police Department)
KENILWORTH — A man stopped for a traffic violation grabbed a handgun from a console in the car and tried to flee from police before an officer tackled him and took away the loaded firearm, authorities said.
Claude Wallace, 36, of Newark was arrested about 10:25 p.m. Wednesday and charged with resisting arrest, possession of marijuana and weapons offenses, including possession of hollow-point bullets.
Police said the handgun was reported stolen out of Georgia.
Claude Wallace was charged with possession of a handgun that was reported stolen out of Georgia and was loaded with hollow point bullets. (Kenilworth Police Department)
Authorities said Sgt. Michael Scanielo stopped a driver, later identified as Wallace, on Kenilworth Boulevard for driving an unregistered vehicle.
While questioning Wallace, Scanielo smelled the odor of raw marijuana in the vehicle, and saw Wallace acting nervous, police said.
They said Wallace pulled something out a center console and got out of the car and tried to flee.
Officer Ryan Kernan, who was also at the scene, saw Wallace had a gun in his hand and tackled him, authorities said. During the arrest, the officers wrestled the gun away, police said.
Police Chief John Zimmerman said because of the officers’ quick actions, “no one was seriously injured in a situation that could have ended very differently.”
Wallace was being held at the Union County jail pending a court hearing.
Tom Haydon may be reached at thaydon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Tom_HaydonSL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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