NEWARK — Three men carrying loaded guns were arrested Tuesday in separate incidents and charged with criminal counts, police said.

Jesus Santiago, 33, was arrested near the intersection of Heller Parkway and Mount Prospect Avenue in the city’s North Ward at 9:30 a.m., said Sgt. Ronald Glover. Santiago had been sought on a warrant since an early morning shots-fired incident in the area – and officers who approached him found a loaded .380-caliber handgun in his waistband, the sergeant said.

Julius Wilson, a 29-year-old from Belleville, was arrested that night, Glover said. Police officers responded to reports of a man carrying a firearm in the South Ward, near the intersection of Hopkins Place and South 20th Street, at approximately 8 p.m., authorities said. The officers spotted a man fitting the physical description, wearing a backpack, police said. Wilson allegedly dropped the bag, then led police on a foot pursuit through back yards in the area, Glover said. A loaded 9mm handgun with a defaced serial number was found in his possession, police said.

Tyquan Williams, 23, was arrested about an hour later, during a motor vehicle stop, police said. Officers from the city’s narcotics and gangs division, as well as federal DEA, New Jersey State Police, county prosecutor, and NJ State Parole agencies were all involved in the car stop, which was made around 9:15 p.m., due to a traffic violation, Glover said. Williams was found to be in possession of a loaded, .40-caliber handgun, and a small bag of marijuana, police said.

Santiago was charged with weapons offenses. Wilson was charged with weapons possession and resisting arrest. Williams was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of marijuana, and was issued traffic summonses, Glover said.

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