Newark Weapons/Narcotics Arrests

September 14, 2017

Contact: Sheriff Armando Fontoura (973) 621-4105

Newark – Two gun-toting suspects, known to law enforcement from prior investigations, were arrested in separate incidents on Wednesday afternoon by Essex County sheriff’s detectives and weapons and drug charges were filed against them.

Sheriff Armando Fontoura stated that officers from his department’s Bureau of Narcotics were conducting drug investigations when they observed four males loitering at the intersection of Littleton and 14th avenues.

“At that time, our detectives witnessed a suspect known to us as Tony Dorch, 27 of Newark, reach into his waistband, remove items from a clear plastic bag and exchange them with another male for cash.” Sheriff Fontoura said.  “The two men then left the scene in different directions on foot.”

The sheriff’s BON officers followed Dorch to Fairmount Avenue.  When to sheriff’s detectives announced their presence Dorch attempted to flee the scene.

“While running, Dorch discarded the plastic bag to the ground and attempted to climb over a backyard fence,” Fontoura noted.  “He was pulled down but continued to resist by flailing his arms and legs at our officers.  Dorch was subdued after a brief struggle and he was found to be carrying a fully loaded, .380 caliber Glock semi-automatic handgun.”

The plastic bag was recovered and it was found contain 12 heroin-filled glassine envelopes, stamped “LOUIS VUITTON” in red ink.  $74 in alleged drug proceeds was also seized from Dorch.

Fontoura added that the gun was later found to have been reported stolen out of Rock Hill, South Carolina on February 2, 2017.

A canvass of the area for the drug buyer was unsuccessful.

The sheriff’s BON detectives conducted second narcotics investigation yesterday afternoon at the intersection of William Street and Glenwood Avenue in Orange.

Here, a suspect, Raynell Solomon, 24 of East Orange, was observed slowing walking westbound on William Street in a manner consistent with drug distribution activity.

“Solomon was known to us as an individual who frequently carries handguns,” Fontoura pointed out.  “Fearing that Solomon may have been armed and a threat to officers and local residents, our detectives searched him and the black book bag he was carrying.  The book bag was found to contain a .40 caliber Ruger semi-automatic handgun with an extended capacity magazine that was fully loaded with illegal hollow-point bullets.”

Dorch was charged with the unlawful possession of a weapon while committing a narcotics crime, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, receiving stolen property, resisting arrest, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of CDS with intent to distribute and possession of CDS with intent to distribute within 1000 feet of Camden Street School.

Dorch was also found to be the subject of four open warrants issued by the Newark municipal court.

Solomon was charged with the unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of illegal hollow-point bullets.  He was also found to be the subject of an open warrant issued by the Newark municipal court.

Both suspects were lodged at the county jail where they await bail hearings.

Newark-South Ward Multiple Narcotics Arrests

August 10, 2017

Contact: Sheriff Armando Fontoura (973) 621-4105

Newark – As a result of two simultaneous narcotics investigations yesterday in the city’s South Ward, Essex County sheriff’s detectives arrested three alleged drug dealers and one suspected drug buyer.

Sheriff Armando Fontoura stated that the two surveillance operations on Wednesday afternoon were prompted by numerous neighborhood complaints of open-air drug trafficking.

“Shortly after 1:00 p.m., our detectives observed Oscar Gonzalez, 19, of Newark, loitering in front of 34 Ridgewood Avenue,” Sheriff Fontoura said.  “Soon, a 2002 Mitsubishi Galant with Alyssa Spiecker, 24, of South Amboy, in the front passenger seat pulled up and parked at that location.”

After a brief conversation with Spiecker, Gonzalez ran across the street and removed items that were secreted on the front lawn of his residence.

Gonzalez exchanged the items with Spiecker for cash and the Mitsubishi was followed by plainclothes sheriff’s detectives as it drove away from the scene.

The car in which Spiecker was riding was pulled over a few blocks away and she was found to be in possession of ten heroin-filled glassine envelops, stamped “100” in red ink.  She was placed under arrest and the driver of the vehicle was released without charges.

“Gonzalez was arrested at the scene of the alleged sale of narcotics and a search of his lawn yielded 40 similarly marked decks of heroin,” Fontoura added.

Sheriff’s narcotics detectives also observed Avent Holston, 25, of Newark, loitering in front of 215A Chadwick Avenue on Wednesday afternoon.

“A man on a bicycle arrived on the scene and after a brief conversation Holston walked across the street to an electrical utility closet attached to a nearby house from which he removed items from a backpack that was stored at that location,” the sheriff noted.

The biker then left the scene and a search for him was unsuccessful.

“Moments later, a second suspect, later identified as Ibraheem Islam, 29, of Newark, pulled up and parked his 2016 Ford Mustang at the scene,” Fontoura said.  “Islam was carrying a large clear plastic bag that was recognizably filled with smaller clear bags filled with a brownish/greenish substance.”

Islam and a female passerby engaged a conversation that resulted in the exchange of one of the smaller bags for cash.  A search for the female was unsuccessful.

“Islam then walked over to the utility closet and placed his large plastic bag into the backpack.  At this point, our detectives announced their presence and searched the utility closet.  The backpack was found to contain 178 bags of marijuana and Holston and Islam were placed under arrest,” Fontoura added.

Gonzalez was charged with the sale and distribution of narcotics to Spiecker, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of CDS with intent to distribute, possession of CDS with intent to distribute within 1000 feet of Newark Innovation Academy and possession of CDS with intent to distribute within 500 feet of a public housing complex.

Both Holston and Islam were charged with possession of CDS, possession CDS with intent to distribute, possession of CDS with intent to distribute within 1000 feet of William H. Brown Academy, possession of CDS with intent to distribute within 500 feet of the Clinton Branch of the Newark Public Library and conspiracy to violate New Jersey’s narcotics laws.

Spiecker was issued a summons and released in her own recognizance.  She is scheduled for arraignment on August 23rd.

Gonzalez, Holston and Islam were lodged at the county jail where they await bail hearings.

Gang Member Arrested on Multiple Narcotics Offenses

August 11, 2017

Contact: Sheriff Armando Fontoura (973) 621-4105

Newark – An alleged female member of the Crips street gang was arrested Thursday night at her North Ward apartment by a law enforcement task force comprised of Essex County sheriff’s detectives and Irvington police officers.  Multiple drug charges were filed against her.

Sheriff Armando Fontoura stated that when the task force, armed with a search warrant for 356 North 5th Street, knocked and announced their presence at the ground floor entry to the multi-family residence, Edda Vasquez, 37, the target of the investigation, appeared on her second floor balcony and quickly retreated into her apartment.

Fearing destruction of evidence, the task force officers made a forced entry into the building and into the upstairs apartment.

“Here, our officers watched as Vasquez tossed a clear plastic bag onto her kitchen floor,” Sheriff Fontoura said.  “The bag contained 20 grams of ‘crack’ cocaine.  Vasquez was placed under arrest and searched.  She was found to be in possession of $131 which was confiscated.”

The sheriff added that an orderly search of the apartment was conducted.

“In the dining room, our detectives discovered and seized an additional 19 grams of “crack”, 35 plastic jugs filled with ‘crack’ cocaine and an assortment of drug packaging processing materials and $2,000 in cash.  A shoebox in the bedroom was found to contain 20 films of Suboxone and 33 Endocet tablets.  Apparently, this mini-drug store was catering to multiple tastes,” Fontoura noted.

The estimated street value of the narcotics is approximately $4,500.

Vasquez was charged with three counts each of possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of CDS with intent to distribute, possession of CDS with intent to distribute within 1000 feet of William H. Horton School and possession of CDS with intent to distribute within 500 feet of Branch Brook Park.  The suspect was also charged with one count of the possession of narcotics paraphernalia.

Vasquez was lodged at the Essex County jail where she awaits a bail hearing on the charges.

Newark-North Ward Narcotics Arrest

August 13, 2017

Contact: Sheriff Armando Fontoura (973) 621-4105

Newark – A male suspect was arrested on Friday afternoon by Essex County sheriff’s detectives and multiple drug charges were filed against him.

Sheriff Armando Fontoura stated that officers from his department’s Bureau of Narcotics, as part of a series of on-going drug investigations in Newark’s North Ward, arrested Nicholas Weegar, 49, and recovered heroin, marijuana and $7,587 in drug proceeds.

Armed with a search warrant for a second floor studio apartment, located at 219 Mount Prospect Avenue, the BON detectives entered the residence and detained Weegar, the target of their probe, while the room was searched.

“In a dresser, our officers discovered 15 bundles of heroin, stamped ‘CHARGED UP’ in black ink, narcotic ledger sheets of Weegar’s customers and $5,945 in cash,” Sheriff Fontoura said.  “In searching Weegar, an additional three bundles of heroin, eight grams of marijuana and an additional $1,642 were found in his pants pocket.”

Weegar was charged with two counts each of possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of CDS with intent to distribute and possession of CDS with intent to distribute within 1000 feet of Branch Brook School.  He was also charged with possession of narcotics paraphernalia.

Weegar was lodged at the county jail where he awaits a bail hearing.