A 35-year-old Camden man was arrested near the NJ Transit Light Rail platform in Riverside on Tuesday morning after police say he was intoxicated, armed with a loaded handgun, and holding a glass pipe used for narcotics. Markis T. Harrison now faces a lengthy list of weapons and drug charges following the roughly 9 a.m. confrontation.
Officers first spotted Harrison standing in the street yelling at people before approaching him. Once they got close, they discovered he was drinking tequila through a straw and holding a glass pipe used for narcotics. During the investigation, officers discovered a loaded Taurus semi-automatic handgun, which Harrison allegedly possessed unlawfully, according to seed reporting from Newport Dispatch. The gun reportedly contained more than 10 rounds of ammunition, with Audacy's report describing it as about a dozen rounds.
Outstanding Warrant Surfaces During Arrest
As officers worked through the scene, they also learned Harrison had an outstanding arrest warrant out of Cherry Hill Township, per the same account from Audacy. He was taken to the Riverside Township Police Department for processing, according to Newport Dispatch's reporting, before being lodged at the Burlington County Correctional Facility to await a detention hearing.
Harrison, who is from Camden, is facing a string of charges tied to the encounter. Per Newport Dispatch, those charges include second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, second-degree possession of a handgun for an unlawful purpose, third-degree certain persons not to possess firearms, and fourth-degree possession of a high-capacity magazine. He also faces charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, disorderly conduct, and having an open container of alcohol in public, the outlet reported — a list that aligns with Audacy's broader description of Harrison facing several charges, including possession of a firearm and an open alcohol container in public.
Local Ordinance Bars Loaded Firearms in Riverside
Riverside Township's own firearms ordinance adds context to the case. Under the township code, no person may carry, transport, or possess any loaded gun, rifle, pistol, or other firearm within the township at any time, subject to listed exceptions. The same ordinance also bars possessing or carrying a firearm within 450 feet of locations including dwellings, churches, stores, schoolhouses, school grounds, and public parks, unless an exception applies.
At the state level, New Jersey's weapons statute, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4, addresses possession of weapons for unlawful purposes, including possessing a firearm with intent to use it unlawfully against another person or property.
