Brick Resident’s Alert Leads to Arrest of Ski-Masked Duo & Gun Seizure

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Brick Resident’s Alert Leads to Arrest of Ski-Masked Duo & Gun Seizure

Brick Resident's Alert Leads to Arrest of Ski-Masked Duo & Gun Seizure

Ectgar Candia-Paz, 18, of Somerset

An 18-year-old from Somerset and a young adult were detained on Wednesday after a firearm was discovered in their vehicle after a citizen spotted them driving while wearing ski masks and phoned the police, according to Brick Township police.

According to Brick Patrol Officer Victoria Finelli, Ectgar Candia-Paz, 18, of Somerset, is detained in the Ocean County Jail in Toms River on charges related to weapons, while the minor is detained at the Ocean County Juvenile Detention Center.

A local witnessed Candia-Paz and the kid driving by in a black Honda while they were both wearing ski masks, according to Finelli.

She explained: "The resident believed it was strange and reported it to police due to the recent surge in burglaries.

Patrolman Joseph McGrath saw the vehicle shortly after the 6:26 p.m. call, and he and Patrolmen Ryan Marmer and Charles Wehrlen stopped it on Chambers Bridge Road close to the ShopRite shopping center. said Finelli.

According to Finelli, as they got close to the car, McGrath noticed the juvenile passenger reaching toward the floor and ordered them out. They were then detained while a K-9 search of the vehicle was being done.

When K9 Rebel and Patrolman Ray Lapoint arrived, Rebel signaled a successful hit on the car, according to Finelli, and officers discovered a firearm and a high-capacity magazine.

She said that the juvenile was charged with juvenile delinquency, and Candia-Paz was charged with possession of a defaced weapon, unauthorized possession of a handgun, possession of a high-capacity magazine, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

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