Atlantic City man wanted in gun case arrested with loaded gun after assaulting sergeant, police say

An Atlantic City man wanted in a drug and gun case while on probation was arrested with a loaded gun after an officer ran toward gunshots Thursday, according to the new charges.

Sgt. Mike Tracy was in the area of Pennsylvania and Arctic avenues when he heard several gunshots a block away just after noon, Sgt. Paul Aristizabal said.

Moments later, there was a ShotSpotter notification that several rounds were fired around Pennsylvania and Baltic avenues, and Tracy responded, according to the report.

Detectives Eric Evans, Christian Ivanov and Darrin Lorady also responded, and began checking the area north of Baltic, Aristizabal said.

That’s when the saw TajMalik Harris allegedly trying to hide down an alley next to an abandoned church, according to the report.

Harris has been a fugitive since April, after a loaded gun and several folds of heroin were found in his impounded vehicle, police said at the time.

As the detectives approached Harris on Thursday afternoon, he ran, Aristizabal said.

As he ran, the detectives noticed him holding an object in his waistband consistent with a gun, according to the report.

Tracy, who was now at the intersection, intercepted Harris and tried to stop him, Aristizabal said. The sergeant was assaulted and a brief struggle followed.

With help from Evans, Harris was taken into custody, Aristizabal said.

During the struggle, a loaded handgun allegedly fell from Harris’ waistband.

The .45-caliber semiautomatic handgun was loaded with hollow-point bullet believed to have been used in the earlier shooting, Aristizabal said.

Evidence of gunfire was found at the original location of the ShotSpotter alert, he said.

No victim has come forward and there were no reports of property damage.

Harris, 28, is charged with unlawful possession of weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, possession of hollow-point ammunition, certain persons not to possess firearms, possession of heroin, possession with the intent to distribute, possession with intent to distribute within a school zone, possession of a weapon during a drug-distribution offense, two counts of aggravated assault , resisting arrest by force, two counts of obstruction and money laundering.

He is in the Atlantic County Justice Facility awaiting a detention hearing.

Atlantic City man on probation wanted in drug, gun case

An Atlantic City man on probation is now wanted after a gun and drugs were found in his impounded vehicle, police said. TajMalik Harris, 28, was stopped April 4, after committing multiple traffic violations, according to police. Detectives Alberto Valles and Anthony Abrams pulled him over at 7:46 p.m. in the 1800 block of Arctic … Read more