Cops: Driver went for gun

Friday, January 09, 2009
By TOM SHORTELL
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Jersey City police arrested a 23-year-old man who reached for a .40 caliber handgun when police pulled him over in a traffic stop late Wednesday night, reports said.

Travis Charles, of Armstrong Avenue, was charged with possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes and unlawful possession of a weapon, reports said. He was also issued a summons for driving without headlights, reports said.

Officers pulled over Charles' 1996 Subaru Impreza on Woodlawn Avenue at 11:50 p.m. after they noticed the car driving without headlights, reports said.

Charles refused to lower his window, so police officers opened the driver's side door, reports said.

At that point, Charles started to reach into an inside coat pocket, reports said.

An officer ordered him to show his hands, but Charles shoved his hand into the pocket, reports said.

The officer pulled Charles' hand up and away from his pocket and when the officer reached into the pocket he came up with a .40 caliber handgun, reports said.

Charles was immediately taken into custody.

A passenger in the car was also held for an open warrant out of Jersey City, reports said.