An Atlantic City man found in his vehicle with a gun allegedly ready to fire and distribution-level drugs was ordered held in jail Tuesday.
David Ruiz-Neewilly's Buick was one of two suspect vehicles in a daylight July shooting that wounded a man, Chief Assistant Prosecutor Allison Eiselen.
Police recovered 29 shell casings with an investigation identifying two vehicles involved in the shooting, Eiselen said.
The 19-year-old man has not been charged in the shooting.
Ruiz-Neewilly was stopped in Back Maryland with a passenger in the vehicle and a man and a woman outside talking to them when police approached the suspect vehicle, according to the complaint.
The vehicle was towed while investigators obtained a search warrant, and discovered a loaded handgun with 17 rounds, including one in the chamber, Eiselen said. There was also a laser site in the glove compartment and distribution-level drugs in the trunk along with Ruiz-Neewilly's mail.
Defense attorney Durann Neil called the prosecutor's presentation "a sensationalist recitation of the facts," noting that there is no indication that his client's vehicle was the source of any gunfire.
Eiselen said the was asking for detention only on the 10 charges now in the criminal complaint warrant.
If there was no ongoing shooting investigation, she still would be requesting detention, Eiselen said.
She noted that Ruiz-Neewilly is accused of having a loaded weapon without a serial number readily accessible with a round already in the chamber, along with a laser site in the glove compartment and drugs in the trunk.
He is accused of having marijuana, LSD and mushrooms in the trunk.
Neil argued that the police report said there were vape pens and edibles, but no LSD or mushrooms.
Eiselen countered that it was probable cause based on packaging since law enforcement is no longer allowed to field test drugs, which instead go to the lab.
Superior Court Judge Joseph Levin took time out of the hearing to do some research on the laws, and came back with the decision to hold Ruiz-Neewilly.
The decision went against the public safety assessment, which is used to help determine detention under bail reform. The assessment called for release with monthly reporting.
But that assessment did not take into account the circumstances of the arrest, Levin said, adding that he did not consider the shooting in making his decision.
Ruiz-Neewilly will now remain in the Atlantic County Justice Facility pending the outcome of his case.
