Police: Assault rifle, drugs found at Gloucester Twp. home
Gloucester Township police say they found several weapons, including an AK-47 assault rifle, at the home of a man who said he had a gun in his car after a meeting at Timber Creek High School Thursday morning.
Police said at no time was there any danger to students or Timber Creek staff members.
A staff member at the school allegedly heard the remark by Michael Shaffer, 55, and alerted the school resource officer, a Gloucester Township police officer stationed in the building.
Additional officers who responded to the school tracked Shaffer to his home at 1110 Jarvis Road in the township's Erial section and obtained a search warrant.
During the search, officers and detectives recovered several firearms, including an AK-47 assault rifle and a large-capacity ammunition magazine for the weapon, authorities said.
Police also found 19 pounds of marijuana, packaging material, scales, a safe and $12,000 in cash, according to authorities.
Black Horse Pike School District Superintendent Brian Repici said Shaffer was at the school to pick up his son. Repici wouldn't say why Shaffer took the student home shortly after the school day began.
"I can't divulge why (Shaffer) was there. That's a confidential matter between the man and his son and the school officials. I will say it was unrelated (to Shaffer's arrest)."
Repici praised the staff member who reported Shaffer's comment.
"I'm very, very pleased the teacher reported it immediately. ... The school followed the proper protocol, and the Gloucester Township police also acted immediately," the superintendent said.
Gloucester Township police Capt. Jeffrey Weiserth said Shaffer was alone in the house at the time the search warrant was executed. It is unclear where Shaffer's son is.
Weiserth also commended the staff member's actions: "It was quick work by the school employee who overheard the father's comment.
"Without hesitation the proper people were contacted and we got on it right away."
Shaffer was charged with harassment, possession of an assault weapon, possession of a high capacity magazine, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, distribution of CDS within 1,000 feet of a school zone and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Shaffer is in the Camden County Correctional Facility in lieu of $110,000 full cash bail.