Manchester Man Found To Be In Posession of Illegal Handgun

A Manchester man is facing numerouse charges, including unlawful possession of a handgun, following a motor vehicle stop on Route 37 Saturday night.

Divine Grace Jr., 19, of Manchester Township and Antonio Thomas Jr., 18, of Toms River Township, were arrested on Saturday following a motor vehicle stop conducted by Officer Wendruff of the Manchester Township Police Department. 

At approximately 10:30 p.m., Officer Wendruff stopped the vehicle operated by Thomas for minor motor vehicle infractions in the area of Route 37 and Bone Hill Road.

Officer Wendruff detected an odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle during which time Grace, the passenger in the vehicle, was found to be in possession of a .22 caliber handgun, according to Manchester Township police.

Grace fled the scene on foot with the concealed gun still in his possession and was subsequently apprehended at his residence in the Summit Park section of Manchester Township, police said.

A K-9 track conducted by the Ocean County Sherriff’s Department assisted with the search of Grace.

The handgun was recovered during the search for Grace, along with .22 caliber ammunition that was later located in the vehicle.

Alcohol and less than fifty grams of marijuana were also recovered from the vehicle.

Thomas was charged with one count of possession of an alcoholic beverage by a minor and released on a summons.

Grace was charged with one count of unlawful possession of a weapon, one count possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, one count eluding, one count hindering apprehension, and one count possession of marijuana under 50 Grams. He was transported to the Ocean County Jail in lieu of $75,000.00 bail, no ten percent option.