Man Accused of Assault Arrested with Loaded and Defaced Handgun, yet he was still FREE TO GO under NJ’s Bail Reform

“Hackensack police seized a handgun that they said an assault defendant had stashed in a duffle bag. The 9mm Smith & Wesson seized from Gabriel Lora, 32, had a defaced serial number and a magazine that was loaded with eight rounds, Capt. Peter Busciglio said. Police were called last Wednesday after Lora returned to an address where he slapped, bit and shoved a victim earlier in the day, Busciglio said. Officer Raymond Donnerstag found Lora soon after in the parking lot at the 7-Eleven at Huyler and Wesley streets in South Hackensack, the captain said. Lora gave police consent to search both his car and South Main Street apartment and admitted that he had a handgun in the duffle bag, Busciglio said. Police seized the handgun and charged Lora with various weapons counts – including possession of a defaced firearm — in addition to aggravated and simple assault, he said. They sent him to the Bergen County Jail, only to have a judge order his release three days later under New Jersey’s 2017 bail reform law.”

(Jerry DeMarco, “Hackensack Police Seized Loaded, Defaced Gun From Assault Defendant,” Hackensack Daily Voice, 5/15/2018)

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