An Egg Harbor Township man is jailed after police found a gun inside his impounded vehicle after he allegedly fired it while behind the wheel.
Kiyon Smalley, 19, already had been released from the jail before a 9mm handgun was found inside the vehicle.
The saga began at about 12:33 a.m. Sunday, when police received a report of a driver firing shots in an unknown direction, Capt. Cherie Burgan said.
Patrol units arrived in the are of Fire and Delilah roads, where they were given a description of the red four-door 2010 Chevrolet and which way it fled, according to the report.
Officer Dominic Newman spotted the car a short time later, and made a high- risk stop in the area of Delilah Road and English Creek Avenue, Burgan said.
Several officers responded to the stop to assist.
Smalley was positively identified and was found to have a traffic warrant out of the township, Burgan said.
He had an empty holster on him, but no gun was found at that time, according to the report.
A 17-year-old passenger was released to his mother.
The car was impounded while police awaited approval of a search warrant, Burgansaid.
No victims or damage were reported from the incident.
The vehicle was searched Tuesday, and Detective Jeff Lancaster found a 9mm handgun with a high-capacity magazine and several rounds of ammunition, Burgan said.
By this time, Smalley had been released from the jail.
When he came to the Police Department to get his car Wednesday, he was taken into custody on weapons charges, Burgan said.
He was then given a ride back to the Atlantic County Justice Facility, where he is awaiting a detention hearing.
The juvenile was charged and will go through juvenile court.
Police thanked the person who reported the incident.
"While we cannot always be everywhere in this almost 70-square-mile town, we know that with your help, we can keep Egg Harbor Township safe," the statement read. "If you see something, say something."
