Hidden gun arrests mount in Lakewood

The suspect in third disclosed instance of loaded handguns during traffic pullovers in Lakewood since late July remains jailed, and is the second suspect from South Toms River involved.

Davante Tinnery had a concealed .357 semi-automatic handgun during the October 19 stop, at about 10 PM on Martin Luther King Drive, according to police. T

he 2016 Chevy Malibu was driven by Qualeik Williams, 22, of Brick Township, who allegedly had 55 folds of heroin on him.

Williams was given a drug charge and released on a summons. Tinnery faces three weapon-related counts, with bail set at a full $115,000 at the Ocean County Jail in Toms River.

The previous month, on September 9, Diego Santamaria, 26, of Lakewood, was charged with drug and weapons counts after a search of his car prompted a more disturbing search of his dwelling.

Police said that a K-9 team found cocaine in Santamaria's 2004 Lincoln Navigator on Forest Avenue. In the house was more cocaine, marijuana, packaging implements and a loaded .22-caliber revolver, police said.

Santamaria was placed in the Ocean County Jail, with bail set at $110,000, and no provision for release on payment of 10 percent.

The other South Toms River weapons suspect, James Watt Jr., 20, was charged July 23. Police conducting a search for a suspicious individual on Martin Luther King Drive said that Watt ran from detectives, and after a foot chase, was found hiding a loaded .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun.

Watt was charged with weapons violations, resisting arrest and hinering apprehension. He was placed in the Ocean County Jail, and posted $150,000 full bail the following day, police said.

Charges are accusations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless, and until, found guilty in a court of law.