Wildwood Traffic Stop Leads to 3 Arrests, 2 Loaded Guns Seized
Wildwood, N.J. — A traffic stop in Wildwood over Labor Day Weekend turned into a major weapons arrest after officers say they spotted a car covering part of its license plate with black tape and then found two loaded handguns inside, including one modified to fire automatically and another that had been reported stolen.
18-year-old Donald R. Jones of Downingtown, PA; 21-year-old Maurice L. Bullock, Jr., of Exton, PA; and a 17-year-old juvenile, also from Pennsylvania, were all taken into custody on Saturday.
Tape on the Plate
According to the Wildwood Police Department, its officers spotted a maroon Chrysler committing multiple motor vehicle violations on Rio Grande Avenue and noticed that part of its Pennsylvania plate had been covered with black tape, which they said is a tactic commonly used to avoid detection. Officers pulled the vehicle over near Andrews and Ocean Avenues.
Two Guns, One Modified to Fire Automatically
During the investigation, officers observed a black handgun inside a cross-body bag that Bullock had removed from the vehicle. The weapon was a loaded .45-caliber Glock Model 21, equipped with a switch, which is a conversion device that transforms a semiautomatic handgun into a fully automatic firearm. The bag also contained an extended 30-round magazine and hollow-point ammunition.
A sweep of the vehicle turned up a second gun, a loaded Taurus 9mm in a separate bag in the front passenger area, equipped with a large-capacity magazine loaded with both full-metal-jacket and hollow-point rounds. The Taurus had been reported stolen, according to authorities.
Charges
Jones, Bullock, and the juvenile were charged with unlawful possession of a handgun, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, possession of a machine gun, possession of a large-capacity ammunition magazine, possession of hollow-point ammunition, receiving stolen property, and possession of a firearm by a minor. Multiple motor vehicle summonses were also issued.
Jones and Bullock were lodged at the Cape May County Correctional Facility. The juvenile was processed under New Jersey juvenile justice procedures and released to a family member.
Wildwood Police Chief Joseph Murphy called the modified weapon particularly alarming, saying the firearm's ability to function fully automatically, combined with its extended magazine capacity, led him to conclude it was intended to cause harm to individuals.
The public is reminded that charges are accusations and all persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Chris Coleman is a South Jersey native and has been a cornerstone of the Atlantic City radio market since 1998. He serves as Brand Manager for WPG Talk Radio 95.5 and afternoon on-air personality for WPUR Cat Country 107.3. A five-time President's Circle award winner and Townsquare Media's 2024 Content Creator of the Year, Chris covers news, events, and stories of interest across Southern New Jersey. Story tips: chris.coleman@townsquaremedia.com.
