Authorities were on the scene overnight, reopening part of the Union County neighborhood early Wednesday after streets were blocked off around Filbert Street in Roselle Park.
The incident began with what appeared to be a routine stop over seat belts on West Westfield Avenue near the Garden State Parkway entrance ramp Tuesday afternoon. But a passenger, identified as 27-year-old Travis Dulk, was found to be in possession of a handgun with hollow-point bullets, cocaine and prescription drugs.
Authorities followed up, visiting the apartment Dulk shares with his mother. There, police reportedly found cannisters of black powder, several pieces of PVC and metal piping, disassembled firearms, high-capacity magazines and an M-4 assault weapon.
Authorities say an operational bomb could not have been constructed from those materials, but police believe if he knew what he was doing, he eventually could have made a bomb.
Dulk and his mother are said to be cooperating with police.
He is charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, unlawful possession of hollow-point ammunition and possession of cocaine and narcotics.
