Crime & Safety
Newark Cops Disarm Man At Gas Station On New Year’s Eve (VIDEO)
The officers showed "great restraint" while making the arrest, authorities said. The encounter was captured on body camera.
NEWARK, NJ — A trio of Newark police officers defused a potentially deadly encounter on New Year’s Eve, showing “great restraint” while arresting a man with a handgun at a gas station, authorities said.
The incident – which was captured on police body cameras – began at 8:55 p.m. when three community focus team officers arrived at the Exxon gas station on Springfield Avenue, according to the Newark Department of Public Safety.
When the officers arrived at the gas station, they came across two men who were having a loud argument. As the officers watched, one of the men – later identified as Laquan Walker, 36, of Newark – took out a handgun and approached the other man, police said.
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The three officers unholstered their service weapons and ordered Walker to the ground, quickly following up with an arrest, police said.
No injuries were reported, authorities stated.
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Police charged Walker with unlawful weapon possession and certain persons prohibited from weapon possession.
“I am grateful that these officers took command of a situation that could have ended in a tragedy,” Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said.
Ambrose said the officers, who are still in field training, “exhibited great restraint” and should be commended.
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- See related article: Newark SWAT, Police Use ‘Sensitivity’ To Avert Tragedy
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