Two Arrested In Franklin For Unlawful Possession Of Handguns

Two Franklin residents were arrested on Friday for unlawful possession of a firearm, according to Somerset County Prosecutor Geoffrey D. Soriano.

According to the Somerset Prosecutor's Office:

Somerset County Prosecutor Geoffrey D. Soriano, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of Detectives Timothy Fitzgerald and Franklin Township Police Chief Lawrence Roberts announce the arrest of Kelly Ambrose (age 31) and Elizabeth DeFrank (age 48) both of Park Lane in Princeton, New Jersey.  Defendants Ambrose and DeFrank were each charged with two counts of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, 2nd Degree. 

Prosecutor Soriano states that on June 20, 2014 at approximately 10:45 p.m., members of the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force, along with members of the Franklin Township Crime Suppression Unit were conducting an investigation into the unlawful possession of handguns in the area of the Somerset Mews Apartment Complex in Franklin Township, New Jersey.

Task Force detectives received information that defendants Kelly Ambrose and Elizabeth DeFrank would be arriving at the Somerset Mews Apartment Complex driving a white Toyota Tacoma pickup truck, and would be in possession of two handguns.  

As a result of receiving this information, Task Force detectives and members of the Franklin Township Crime Suppression Unit established surveillance in the area of the Somerset Mews Apartment Complex. Task Force detectives observed a male, later identified as Kelly Ambrose, and a female, later identified as Elizabeth DeFrank, arrive to the Somerset Mews Apartment Complex parking lot driving a white Toyota Tacoma pickup truck. 

Task Force detectives approached the Toyota Tacoma, identified themselves as police officers and asked defendants Ambrose and DeFrank to exit the vehicle.  Defendants Ambrose and DeFrank were advised of the investigation and voluntary consent was obtained to search the Toyota Tacoma from Ambrose.       

As a result of the consent search conducted on the Toyota Tacoma, Task Force detectives located a Smith & Wesson revolver .41 caliber and a Ruger Mark II Longfire .22 caliber handgun.  The two handguns were located in the center of the bench seat of the Toyota Tacoma. Defendants Ambrose and DeFrank were subsequently placed under arrest without incident.

Defendant Ambrose and defendant DeFrank were lodged in the Somerset County Jail with bail set at $100,000.00 cash or bond.