Three Franklin Township men were charged Tuesday with having a handgun in the trunk of their vehicle at a Manville shopping center.
The three were identified as Rashiene Rochester, 22, of Robert Court; Malcolm Allen, 22, of Martin Street, and a 16-year-old from Franklin Township.
The Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force received information Tuesday that two black men with a controlled dangerous substance would be arriving at the Marketplace at Manville. They were said to be driving a black Mazda 3.
At about 4:30 p.m. a surveillance team of task force detectives saw a black four-door Mazda 3 arriving at the mall. Three black men got out of the vehicle and were later identified as Mr. Allen, Mr. Rochester and a juvenile, police said.
Detectives said they saw the three walked to the rear of the vehicle. Before the trunk of the vehicle was opened Mr. Rochester and the teen walked towards a store in the Marketplace. Detectives approached and detained both individuals without incident.
Other detectives approached Mr. Allen, who was inside the vehicle. After being advised of the narcotics investigation, Mr. Rochester voluntarily consented for detectives to search his vehicle, police said. The search resulted in seizure of a loaded Ruger .22-caliber handgun with nine rounds of ammunition.
All three defendants were charged with unlawful possession of a handgun, a second-degree offense.
Mr. Rochester and Mr. Allen were lodged in the Somerset County Jail. Superior Court Judge Kevin Shanahan set bail for Mr. Rochester at $100,000 with the option to post 10 percent in cash. Mr. Allen’s was set at $50,000 with a 10 percent option to apply.
The juvenile was lodged in Middlesex County Juvenile Detention Center.
