Cops: Man Came to Brick With Assault Rifle, Handguns to Visit ‘Facebook Girlfriend’

Antonio J. Perez (Photo: Ocean County Jail)

A man found sleeping in his car at the Boland Field Baseball Complex on Lanes Mill Road in Brick had numerous firearms, including an AK-47 style assault rifle, plus more than a thousand rounds of ammunition, while in town to meet a woman he met on Facebook two years ago, Brick police said.

Antonio J. Perez, 24, of Elkhart, Indiana, was located by Patrolmen Mark Nixon, Mark Catalina and Marc Alexander Wednesday at 12:30 a.m., Sgt. Henry Drew said.

When the officers made contact, Drew said, Perez had in his possession a loaded SigSauer P226 .40 caliber handgun, a loaded Smith &Wesson .38 revolver, a loaded Smith &Wesson .357 revolver and a loaded WASR-10 rifle with a loaded 30 round magazine. In addition, he was found to be in possession of a case of 1,000 rounds of 7.62 ammunition, a canister of pepper spray and a gas mask.

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An investigation by Detective Robert Shepherd revealed that Perez was en route to meet his Facebook “girlfriend” of 2 years, who he had yet to meet in person, Drew said. Officers were able to locate the woman and verify that she was unharmed.

Perez was charged with stalking, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, possession of a rifle, possession of other weapons, possession of destructive devices, possession of certain bullets, possession of large capacity ammo magazine (two counts), possession of a handgun, disposition of weapons, disposition of an assault firearm, possession of marijuana, and driving an unregistered vehicle.

Bail was set by the Municipal Court Judge Robert Lepore at $100,000 cash.  Perez was lodged in the Ocean County Jail in lieu of bail.