Men Had Gun, Drove Drunk in Park Blvd. Crash, Police Say

A Cherry Hill man who was driving under the influence and his passenger were arrested after crashing a car and firing a gun near the Habitat Apartments on Park Boulevard early Wednesday morning, Cherry Hill Police said.

Everado J. Mendez, 28, of the 100 block of Park Boulevard, and Cesar Flores-Espinosa, 38, of Fox Meadow Apartments in Maple Shade, ran from the crash scene in the woods near the apartment complex, but were found not long after officers arrived at the scene around 3:30 a.m., police said.

A K-9 search turned up a .22-caliber handgun loaded with blanks, leading to additional charges, police said.

Mendez had to taken to Kennedy University Hospital because of injuries he suffered in the crash, police said.

Both men were charged with unlawful possession of a handgun, and Mendez was additionally charged with driving while intoxicated. Flores-Espinosa was taken to the Camden County Jail in default of $50,000 bail, while Mendez's bail is still pending his release from the hospital.