A Neptune man found with a handgun and drugs in his possession during a 2015 arrest in Asbury Park will spend the eight years in prison after being sentenced Monday, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office.

Police received a tip on August 18, 2015 someone in the area of the Asbury Park Garden Apartments Complex was carrying a gun.

Salik Hinton, 29, led a responding Asbury Park police officer on a brief pursuit just after midnight when the patrolman had just stopped to speak with him.

The pursuit ended when Hinton tripped and fell down.

When he did the evidence poured out of his pockets which was a .25 caliber semi-automatic handgun along with multiple prescription drugs.

He was found guilty by a jury on January 18, 2018 for third degree Possessing a Controlled Dangerous Substance, second degree Unlawfully Possessing a Handgun without a Permit, and second degree Certain Person Not to Possess a Handgun.

Hinton was ordered by the judge to serve a mandatory five year period in prison before he could become eligible for parole.

Defendant's prior criminal record prohibited him from legally possessing a firearm.

The trial was prosecuted by Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Caitlin Sidley.

Hinton is represented by Sarah Surgent, Esq.

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