South 19th St. Newark – Narcotics Arrest

October 26, 2017

Contact: Sheriff Armando Fontoura (973) 621-4105

Newark – A suspect was arrested on Wednesday 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 and Tactical Response Team executed a search warrant at 821 South 19th Street in Newark yesterday morning.

“The target of our investigation, Antonio Seabrooks, 36, was detained as the warrant was executed,” said Sheriff Fontoura.  “As a result, our detectives discovered and seized 77 heroin-filled envelops, stamped “BLACK JACK” in black ink, 171 plastic jugs of ‘crack’ cocaine, an assortment of drug packaging and processing materials, and $110 in suspect drug proceeds in the suspect’s bedroom.”

The street value of the narcotics is estimated at $2,500.

Seabrooks was also wanted on an open Superior Court warrant for a prior narcotics offense.

Seabrooks 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 Madison Avenue School.  He was also charged with possession of narcotics paraphernalia.

Seabrooks was lodged at the county jail where he awaits a bail hearing on the new charges.

Convicted Felon Arrested

June 27, 2017

Contact: Sheriff Armando Fontoura (973) 621-4105

Newark – A convicted felon was arrested in the city’s West Ward last night by Essex County sheriff’s detectives and multiple weapons charges were filed against him.

Sheriff Armando Fontoura stated that officers from his department’s Bureau of Narcotics were on proactive quality of life patrol on Monday evening on 14th Avenue when they heard the discharge of three gunshot rounds in the area.

“An immediate canvass of the area led our detectives to the intersection of 14th Avenue and 14th Street where numerous local residents were seen running away from the area,” Sheriff Fontoura said.  “As the neighbors ran from the scene many of them were shouting ‘he just shot the gun and there are kids everywhere’.”

The suspect, later identified as Jakill Young, 26 of Newark, was observed by the sheriff’s detectives as he walked along 14th Avenue while brandishing a silver handgun and carrying a black book bag.

“Young ignored our commands to drop his weapon and ran through a nearby parking lot where he jumped over a fence,” Fontoura added.  “During his flight, Young threw the gun and the book bag to the ground.  After a brief foot chase, Young was taken into custody without further incident.”

The handgun, a loaded, .38 caliber, Smith & Wesson revolver with three discharged shell casings and the book bag, containing an additional cache of illegal hollow point ammunition, was recovered.

Young was charged with the unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, possession of hollow point bullets and resisting arrest.

A canvass of the area for possible victims and damage from the gunfire yielded negative results.

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

Vehicle Break In(s) Advisory

March 27, 2017

Contact: Sheriff Armando Fontoura (973) 621-4105

Newark – Sheriff Armando Fontoura today issued a reminder to local motorists that statistics reveal a car is broken into every 30 seconds somewhere across our nation.  Fontoura added that Essex County is not exempt to that alarming statistic.

“During this past weekend, we’ve seen a dramatic increase in car break-ins throughout our county on local streets and at our parks and reservations,” the sheriff noted.  “Regretfully, victims have left not only personal valuables in plain sight in their cars but also the type of personal information that makes them vulnerable to identity theft.”

Typical of items left in plain view inside vehicles include wallets, purses, cell phones and laptop computers.  “These items, along with vehicle registration papers and insurance cards, are what every identity thief covets.  Your credit cards, driver’s license, social security number and other personal information are the essential information thieves need to create havoc for you via identity theft.   They steal your life story then run up extravagant bills in your name or commit crimes, such as fraud, in your name.”

Also frequently left in visible sight inside parked cars are iPOD’s in cup holders, GPS systems suctioned onto dashboards, and a few dollars and some loose change left on center consoles for the next toll.

“Motorists should never leave wallets, handbags, backpacks, cell phones or computers unattended in a parked vehicle,” Fontoura said.  “The impact of identity theft on its victims can be devastating.  Identity theft causes major issues for the victim, including financial loss, credit problems, benefit losses, legal problems if the thief is arrested and uses your personal information as his own, and the enormous amount of time it takes to fully rectify the damages made to your reputation.”

The sheriff urges all local motorists to implement target-hardening practices in respect to their vehicles.

“To prevent vehicle break-ins employ common sense techniques,” Fontoura stated.  “Roll your windows up to the top, lock your doors, park in a well-lit area and remove all valuables.  These valuables include cash, electronic equipment, papers with personal identifiers, such as mail and vehicle data.  Never leave your garage door opener in the car as this tool will give the thief access to your home.”

The sheriff noted that trying to hide these items inside your vehicle is virtually pointless.

“Once inside your car, the thief will go through your glove box and center console, flip over your floor mats and gain access to your trunk in a matter of seconds,” Fontoura added.

To further prevent car break-ins the sheriff recommends that residents report all suspicious activity, such as persons walking up and down aisles of parking lots looking into cars or trying door handles, vehicles cruising parking lots at very slow speeds for extended periods while observing parked cars and persons making any kind of mark or placing anything ON parked vehicles, to your local police or sheriff’s department.

Ringwood Avenue Weapon-Drug Arrest

March 24, 2017

Contact: Sheriff Armando Fontoura (973) 621-4105

Newark – An alleged drug dealer, his accomplice and two other suspects were arrested yesterday morning by Essex County sheriff’s detectives resulting in weapons and narcotics charges being filed against the alleged dealer and drug charges filed against the other three suspects.

Sheriff Armando Fontoura stated that officers from his department’s Bureau of Narcotics staged a plainclothes surveillance operation in the area of Ridgewood and Avon avenues on Thursday morning in response to numerous neighborhood complaints of open-air drug trafficking at that location.

“Our detectives observed as Cedric Lewis, 26 of East Orange, and James Holmes, 43 of Newark, paced back and forth through the rear yard at 33 Ridgewood Avenue,” Sheriff Fontoura said.  “Lewis was soon approached by a female and after a brief conversation removed items from a 2008 Chevrolet Impala that was parked in the driveway.  Lewis exchanged these items with the woman for cash.”

Lewis was also approached by Raymond Miller, 57 of Newark, and a similar transaction took place.  As with the female, Miller left the scene on foot.

“While our search for the female proved unsuccessful Miller was detained a few blocks away and he was found to be in possession of five heroin-filled glassine envelops, stamped ‘100’ in red ink, and placed under arrest,” Fontoura added.

Back at the scene, the sheriff’s detectives moved in to further investigate.

“By now, Lewis and Holmes had been joined by a female, later identified as Jahni Daniels, 23 of Newark,” the sheriff noted.  “On the floorboard of Lewis’s vehicle our officers recovered a fully loaded, .45 caliber Taurus semi-automatic handgun which had been reported stolen out of North Carolina.  Holmes was found to be holding an additional 17 similarly marked decks of heroin in his waistband and Daniels voluntarily admitted that she was in possession of 50 zip-lock bags of marijuana.”

Lewis was charged with the unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon while committing a narcotics crime, the sale of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of CDS, possession of CDS with intent to distribute, possession of CDS with intent to distribute within 1000 feet of SOS Academy, possession of CDS with intent to distribute within 500 feet of public housing and receiving stolen property.

Holmes was charged with failure to lawfully dispose CDS and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Miller and Daniels were each charged with possession of CDS.

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

Holmes, Miller and Daniels were issued summonses and released in their own recognizance.  All three suspects were given a court date of April 7, 2017 to answer to Thursday’s charges.

Weapons, Heroin/Crack Cocaine Arrests

March 23, 2017

Contact: Sheriff Armando Fontoura (973) 621-4105

Newark – Three suspects, charged with multiple weapons and narcotics offenses, and two alleged drug buyers were arrested late yesterday morning by Essex County sheriff’s detectives.

Sheriff Armando Fontoura stated that in response to neighborhood complaints of open-air drug trafficking in the area of South Orange and Columbia avenues officers from his department’s Bureau of Narcotics staged a plainclothes surveillance operation at that location on Wednesday morning.

“Here, our detectives observed three suspects, later identified as Keith Jones, 24 of Orange, Abdur Raqib Ali, 20 of Newark, and Tyree Jefferson, 28 of Irvington, where they appeared to be beckoning to passing motorists which is consistent behavior for drug dealers,” Sheriff Fontoura said.

After a few minutes, a 2006 Buick Lucerne, driven by Julius Higgins, 64 of Newark, and his passenger, Bruce Rogers, 48 of Irvington, parked and engaged Jefferson and Ali in a brief conversation.

“Jefferson and Ali then entered a nearby unoccupied vehicle, removed items from the car and exchanged them with Higgins and Rogers for cash,” Fontoura noted.  “Higgins and Rogers were followed from the scene and were each found to be in possession of a heroin-filled glassing envelop.”

Jones, Ali and Jefferson were detained at the scene while the parked car was searched.

“The search of the suspect vehicle yielded a fully loaded, .40 caliber, Smith and Wesson semi-automatic handgun which had been reported stolen out of Raeford, North Carolina, an additional 19 decks of heroin and 28 vials of ‘crack’ cocaine,” the sheriff added.  “Jones was also found to be in possession of 11 zip-lock bags of marijuana while Jefferson was found to be in possession of three decks of heroin.”

Jones and Ali were charged with the sale and distribution of a controlled dangerous substance.  They were also charged with the unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes, possession of a weapon while committing a narcotics crime, receiving stolen property, three counts each of possession of CDS, possession of CDS with intent to distribute and possession of CDS with intent to distribute within 500 feet of Vailsburg Park and one count of conspiracy to violate New Jersey’s narcotics laws.

Jefferson was charged with possession of CDS and he was found to be the subject of two open warrants issued by the Newark municipal court.

Higgins was charged with possession of CDS and he was issued a summons for having narcotics in a motor vehicle.

Rogers was charged with possession of CDS and he was found to be the subject of open warrants issued by the Linden and Irvington municipal courts.

All five suspects were lodged at the county jail where they await bail hearings on Wednesday’s charges.

Armed Drug Suspect Arrested

March 12, 2017

Contact: Sheriff Armando Fontoura (973) 621-4105

Newark – A drug suspect, armed with a semi-automatic handgun, was arrested this morning by Essex County sheriff’s officers.

Sheriff Armando Fontoura stated that uniformed officers from his department’s Patrol Division were conducting quality of life operations on Clinton Avenue on Sunday when their marked cruiser observed three males who had congregated at the South 18th Street intersection.

“Upon spotting our officers, all three men ran from the scene in different directions,” Sheriff Fontoura said.  “As one of the suspects ran, he held his right hand in his waistband which is consistent with suspects seeking to hold on to narcotics or guns.”

The suspect, later identified as Shane Rodriguez, 18, of Newark ran into a nearby backyard and attempted to scale a fence to elude the sheriff’s officers.

“Our officers were quickly upon Rodriguez and tackled him to the ground,” Fontoura noted.  “As the suspect refused to release his hand from whatever he was holding in his waistband, oleo resin capsicum (pepper spray) was utilized on him for officer safety.  A search of Rodriguez’s waistband yielded a fully loaded and defaced, 9mm Hi-Point semi-automatic handgun and 15 vials of ‘crack’ cocaine.”

Rodriguez was charged with the unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes, possession of a defaced weapon, possession of a weapon while committing a narcotics crime, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of CDS with intent to distribute, possession of CDS with intent to distribute within 1000 feet of Blessed Sacrament School, possession of CDS with intent to distribute within 500 feet of public housing and resisting arrest.

Rodriguez was lodged at the county jail where he awaits a bail hearing on today’s charges.

 

North Ward Cocaine/Marijuana Arrests

February 26, 2017

Contact: Sheriff Armando Fontoura (973) 621-4105

Newark – As part on on-going investigations into drug trafficking in the city’s North Ward, a search warrant was executed for a local bodega and its attached residence, located at 534 Broadway, on Saturday afternoon and two suspects, a father and his son, were arrested by Essex County sheriff’s detectives.

Sheriff Armando Fontoura stated that officers from his department’s Bureau of Narcotics, armed with the warrant, surrounded the Mr. Mini Mart convenience store and staged a plainclothes surveillance operation yesterday.

“The target of our investigation was the father, Manuel Ramirez, 49, who was observed removing a black plastic bag from a nearby parked car,” Sheriff Fontoura said.  “Our officers had an unobstructed view as the elder Ramirez brought the bag into the bodega and placed it behind the counter.”

At this point, the sheriff’s detectives moved into the store, detained Ramirez and simultaneously made a forced entry into the residential part of the building.

“The black bag at the bodega was found to contain 64 grams of cocaine and 21 grams of marijuana which were packaged for street distribution,” Fontoura noted.  “In gaining entry to the residential part of the structure, Ramirez’s son, Norberto, 23, was found in the hallway.  Upon spotting our officers, the younger Ramirez threw another plastic bag into a bedroom and attempted to flee the scene on foot.  He was immediately taken into custody.”

The second plastic bag was found to contain additional 182 grams of marijuana and 88 Tramadol tablets, an opioid pain medication.

The street value of the narcotics is estimated at $9,000.

The entire structure was monitored by multiple surveillance cameras as well as DVD recorders and video display terminals.

Manuel and Norberto Ramirez were each charged with two counts of the possession of a controlled dangerous substance and one count each of possession of CDS with intent to distribute and the unlawful maintenance of a fortified narcotics distribution facility.

The charges were all approved under New Jersey’s new bail reform guidelines and both suspects were lodged at the county jail where they await a bail hearing.