JACKSON — A 21-year-old Florida man’s late-night cruise turned into a Christmas Eve in jail after Jackson police found a stolen weapon on him following a one-car accident.
According to police, at about 12:30 a.m. Dec. 24, Officer Jeff Henba found an empty 2006 Nissan that had careened off the road and hit a utility pole on East Veterans Highway near Dunhill Road.
Police said the driver of the Nissan, Michael Stone, of Kissimmee, Fla., was found walking in the vicinity of the car. Officer Michael Goelz arrived at the scene and observed that Stone appeared to be drunk and was acting in a suspicious manner.
The officers searched Stone and found a .22-caliber revolver tucked into the waistband of his pants. Police said it was subsequently determined the gun had been reported stolen in Florida.
Stone was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, receiving stolen property, driving while intoxicated, reckless driving and failure to maintain lane. He was taken to Community Medical Center, Toms River, for treatment of injuries he sustained in the accident. He was subsequently placed in the Ocean County Jail, Toms River, with bail set at $50,000.