Sparta, NJ police: Hells Angels 'prospect' arrested

OFF THE WIRE
Source: dailyrecord.com

New Jersey - ~Sparta
SPARTA--A Sussex County man described by police as a Hells Angels prospect was arrested in connection with an incident last month when an off-duty officer spotted him riding his motorcycle while wearing a 16-inch knife, police said.

Police discovered Sean Sweeney, 39, of Fredon, had a previous criminal conviction out of Bergen County and during an investigation of the Aug. 19 incident, he was found to be prohibited from possessing any weapons .

On that day, Sparta Officer Andrew Petrucelli responded to the area of Sparta Junction when an off-duty Byram Township officer reported he was driving behind a black Harley Davidson and the driver was wearing a large knife.

Petrucelli stopped the bike and discovered Sweeney was wearing a special forces weapon--a Delta Force Explorer knife in a sheath on his left hip, said Sgt. John-Paul Beebe.

"It looked like half a sword,'' Beebe said. "(Petrucelli) saw the rider was wearing it on the side. He didn't know what it was, but knew it wasn't correct.''
The knife, which was 16 inches long with a ten-inch blade, was confiscated.
Sweeney, who was wearing a jacket with a Hells Angels prospect patch, was issued a motor vehicle summons for not wearing a proper safety helmet and released, Beebe said.

Further investigation revealed Sweeney was convicted for distributing heroin in Bergen County approximately 10 years ago and was prohibited to possess weapons, Beebe said. Additional information on that case was not available Friday.
Sparta police charged Sweeney with fourth-degree illegal possession of a weapon and fourth-degree being a person prohibited from possessing weapons. Sweeney was contacted through his attorney, advised of the charges and given a date to
turn himself in, Beebe said.

When he failed to do so, Sparta police obtained a warrant and detectives Terrence Mulligan and Sgt. John Schanstra found Sweeney at a Hamburg home on Sept. 1. He was taken into custody without incident and lodged in the Sussex County Jail in lieu of $5,000 with no 10 percent option.
Tehani Schneider: 973-428-6631; tschneider@gannett.com