Police: Woman says she needed unlicensed handgun in Harlem to ‘feel safe’

A relatively minor license plate violation led police to discover a female passenger with an unlicensed semi-automatic handgun, claiming she needed the weapon in “Harlem because I don’t feel safe,” officials said. 

By John Heinis/Hudson County View

Stephanie Murphey, 31, of Queens, New York, was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a prohibited weapon and device, Port Authority police spokesman Joe Pentangelo said.

At about 10 a.m. yesterday, Port Authority police stationed on 12th Street in Jersey City near the Holland Tunnel saw a 2012 Toyota Camry with a license plate obstructed by a plastic cover, authorities said.

The Toyota was occupied by a male driver and female in the front passenger seat and the officer pulled the vehicle over for the violation. The officer noticed a strong smell of burnt Marijuana on and around Murphey, who admitted that she had smoked marijuana “earlier,” police said.

A search of Murphey yielded a “Raven” semi-automatic handgun. The magazine of the pistol held four bullets, two of which were hollow point rounds, officials said.

The passenger was asked if she had a pistol permit and she said she did not, but she took the weapon to “Harlem because I don’t feel safe,” authorities said.

The driver had no signs of being impaired and was issued a summons for the vehicle violation. The passenger was placed under arrest and her bail was set at $100,000 no 10 percent option, police said.