Freehold man faces charges; loaded weapon found in car

BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer

FREEHOLD – A Freehold Borough man was arrested on March 17 and charged with multiple violations, including possession of a weapon and possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS). According to Freehold Borough police Lt. Mark Wodell, Nathaniel McDonald, 23, was charged in connection with a gunshot being fired on Center Street that evening.

McDonald was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a defaced weapon, possession of a weapon by certain persons prohibited to have a weapon, possession of a high capacity magazine, possession of under 50 grams of a CDS believed to be marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute within 500 feet of a public park, possession of a handgun while in possession of CDS, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a police scanner during the commission of a crime.

Last week’s incident comes on the heels of another episode involving gunshots being fired outside of the front entrance to the Rug Mill Towers apartment complex at Jackson and Center streets on March 5. Charges were lodged against a borough man in connection with that incident. No one was injured that evening, when police said at least four rounds were fired from a handgun.

As to the March 17 incident, Wodell said an anonymous call was received at police headquarters at about 10:15 p.m. reporting that a gunshot had been fired. The caller advised police that McDonald was seen firing the weapon.

Wodell said officers responded to the scene and saw McDonald sitting in a car with a woman. The officers found a 9mm shell casing on the trunk of the car.

The woman, who was not identified or charged with any crime, gave the officers permission to search her car. During the search of the vehicle the officers located the CDS. They subsequently found a loaded 9mm Browning semi-automatic handgun concealed behind the car stereo, Wodell said.

According to the lieutenant, the serial number had been scratched off the gun (a defaced weapon).

Wodell said McDonald was arrested and placed in the Monmouth County jail, Freehold Township, in default of $177,500 bail. Responding to the scene were Detective Michael George, Sgt. Michael Sweetman, Patrolman Chris Otlowski and Patrolman Shaun Hobbs.

The March 17 incident remains under investigation by the Freehold Borough Detective Bureau.