On Monday August 1, Union County Police Officer Steven Neuman conducted a motor vehicle stop for a passenger seatbelt violation. The stop resulted in the arrest of the driver on weapon and drug charges.
After conducting the stop, Officer Neuman detected the odor of marijuana from the vehicle, and observed bullets and empty plastic baggies in the door pocket. He then recovered a black revolver from the center console along with several plastic baggies containing suspected marijuana. Officer Neuman arrested the driver, Daniel Arbelaez-Duque, age 23, of Elizabeth. Arbelaez-Duque was charged with one count of possession of a handgun and one count of possession of marijuana under 50 grams. Bail was set at $50,000 and he is currently in the County Jail pending an August 12 court date. The handgun will be analyzed by the Union County Police Forensic Firearms Identification Unit.