In a stunning turn of events, police in New York found themselves confronting a loaded situation when they seized a firearm belonging to none other than E. Jean Carroll, a writer embroiled in a lawsuit against former President Donald Trump. According to a police report exclusively obtained by NBC News, Carroll admitted to possessing an unlicensed handgun during her testimony, setting off alarm bells for law enforcement.

The police chief of Warwick, New York, paid Carroll a visit on February 15, ostensibly to discuss some unresolved matters. Among these pressing concerns was Carroll’s startling revelation of owning a handgun without the necessary paperwork, disclosed while she was under oath on January 17.

During the trial’s proceedings, Carroll didn’t mince words, disclosing the presence of a “high standard revolver, nine chambers” snugly stationed “by my bed” at her residence. Adding fuel to the fire, she openly confessed, “I still do not have a license.”

Officer John Rader, in his official report, extended an olive branch, offering to safeguard the weapon at the police station for safekeeping. It wasn’t long before Carroll and her security detail surrendered the firearm, with the assurance that it would remain in police custody until Carroll obtained the required New York pistol license.

Curiously, Carroll and her legal representative remained tight-lipped, declining to comment on the matter, as did Officer Rader, adding to the cloak of mystery surrounding the case.

Under New York law, the stakes are high for possessing an unregistered firearm, such as Carroll’s pistol, with potential consequences including a hefty four-year sentence. The delayed response from law enforcement to Carroll’s admission raises questions about the handling of such a serious matter.

The saga of Carroll’s firearm took center stage during cross-examination in January, with Trump’s attorney, Alina Habba, pressing Carroll on her ownership and awareness of the licensing requirements. However, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan swiftly shut down this line of questioning, visibly exasperated by the diversionary tactics.

Despite the courtroom drama, justice prevailed for Carroll, with a jury awarding her a staggering $83.3 million in damages for Trump’s repeated defamation. The hefty sum included compensation for reputational harm, emotional distress, and punitive damages, sending a resounding message against such reprehensible behavior.

Even as Trump vehemently denies the allegations and appeals the verdict, the legal battle rages on. Trump’s posting of a mammoth $91.6 million bond to secure the judgment underscores the gravity of the situation, as both sides dig in for a protracted legal showdown.