Taesean Herbert and Joshua Austin.

By Cecilia Levine From Daily Voice

Two Garfield men were arrested after police found a stolen handgun during a chaotic early morning encounter outside a Clifton shopping center, authorities said.

The incident happened around 2:49 a.m. Friday, Nov. 7, when Officers Benjamin Bressel and Leonel Flores were patrolling the Botany Square shopping center on Dayton Avenue, Lt. Robert Anderson said.

The officers saw a group of people gathered near several parked cars. As police approached, multiple vehicles took off — including a 2022 Nissan Altima that circled the block before returning to the same parking lot, Anderson said.

Police stopped the car and ordered the occupants — driver Joshua Austin, 23, and passenger Taesean Herbert, 22, both of Garfield — to get out. Officers believed the pair might be armed.

A .22-caliber Ruger SR22 handgun was found under the passenger seat, Anderson said. The serial number had been scratched off but was later confirmed to match a gun reported stolen from Rhode Island.

As police moved to arrest the suspects, a large crowd gathered and began physically interfering with officers, Anderson said. Additional officers arrived and dispersed the group.

Austin allegedly resisted arrest before being taken into custody.

Both men were charged with:

  • possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose
  • unlawful possession of a firearm
  • possession of a defaced firearm
  • receiving stolen property

Austin also faces a resisting arrest charge and several motor vehicle violations, police said.

Both were processed and turned over to the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office Corrections Hub to await their first court appearance.