West Ward Crack/Weapons Arrests

June 23, 2017

Contact: Sheriff Armando Fontoura (973) 621-4105

Newark – A reputed Bloods street gang member, along with his mother and his brother, was arrested on Thursday night by Essex County sheriff’s detectives and multiple weapons and drug charges were filed against him.

Sheriff Armando Fontoura stated that officers from his department’s Bureau of Narcotics executed a search warrant for 4 Learning Lane in the city’s West Ward last night.

The target of our investigation, 18-year-old Tyrese Harris, his mother, Ramona Timmons, 53, and his brother, Jarrod Timmons, 23, were detained while the residence was searched.

“In the living room closet, our BON officers discovered and seized a sawed-off, 20 gauge, Winchester shotgun, a loaded, .357 caliber, Smith & Wesson handgun, a .22 caliber Ruger rifle, a 6mm BB gun, ten jugs of ‘crack’ cocaine and a cache of illegal hollow point bullets, along with .40 caliber ammunition and shotgun shells”, Sheriff Fontoura added.  “The Smith & Wesson was reported stolen out of Richland, Colorado, on August 30, 2016 during a residential burglary.”

A small bag of marijuana was discovered in the kitchen and Jarrod Timmons was found to be in possession of three heroin-filled glassine envelopes.

Harris admitted that the weapons, ammunition and the cocaine and marijuana belonged to him.

Harris was charged with four counts of the unlawful possession of a weapon while committing a narcotics crime, two counts of possession of a controlled dangerous substance and one count each receiving stolen property, possession of CDS with intent to distribute, possession of CDS with intent to distribute within 1000 feet of Belmont Runyon School and possession of CDS with intent to distribute within 500 feet of public housing.

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

Ramona Timmons was found to be the subject of an open warrant issued by the Newark municipal court.

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

Ramona and Jarrod Timmons were released and given respective court dates of July 5th and 6th.

Narcotics/Weapons Arrests

June 22, 2017

Contact: Sheriff Armando Fontoura (973) 621-4105

Orange – Two male suspects were arrested by Essex County sheriff’s detectives last night and weapons and drug charges were filed against them.

Sheriff Armando Fontoura stated that officers from his department’s Bureau of Narcotics were conducting proactive quality of life patrol operations on Wednesday evening at Monte Irvin Park when the observed a 2017 Nissan Altima pass them on Oakwood Avenue.  Neither the driver of the vehicle nor his passenger were wearing seatbelts.

“When our officers pulled the car over they immediately detected the odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle,” Sheriff Fontoura said.  “In questioning the driver, Devonne Caldwell, 20 of East Orange, who could not produce proper vehicle documentation he readily admitted there was a zip-lock bag of marijuana in the car’s center console.”

As the sheriff’s officers initiated a search the suspect vehicle for further contraband, the passenger, Aljamu Goines, 22 of Newark, attempted to prevent them by slamming closed the glove compartment.

“After removing Goines from the car, a fully loaded, .40 caliber, Sig Sauer semi-automatic handgun was discovered and seized from the glove compartment,” Fontoura added.  “The gun was found to have been stolen out of Old Bridge, New Jersey, during a home burglary in August 2012.”

Caldwell and Goines were each charged with the unlawful possession of a weapon, receiving stolen property and possession of a controlled dangerous substance.  The suspects were also issued multiple motor vehicle summonses.

Caldwell and Goines were lodged at the county jail where they await a bail hearing.

Littleton Avenue, Irvington – Narcotics Arrests

April 26, 2017

Contact: Sheriff Armando Fontoura (973) 621-4105

Newark – Three male suspects were arrested on drug charges on Tuesday afternoon by a law enforcement task force comprised of Essex County sheriff’s detectives and Irvington police officers.

Sheriff Armando Fontoura stated that as the officers prepared to execute a search warrant for the third floor apartment at 214 Littleton Avenue they encountered a suspect, later identified as Derrick Efford, 21 of Newark, who had just exited a first floor apartment and who was carrying three clear plastic bags, containing marijuana.

“With the first floor apartment door still open, our officers then observed Rajon Collins, 38, and Glenn Blackstone, 27, the son of Glenn Blackstone, Jr. and the target of the investigation, as they threw a blue plastic bag to the kitchen floor and ran from the apartment through the back door,” Sheriff Fontoura said.

After a brief foot chase through neighboring backyards, Collins and Blackstone, both of whom are Newark residents, were arrested as they attempted to enter a taxi cab on Fairmount Avenue.

“The blue plastic bag was recovered and it was found to contain 112 grams of marijuana and 21 grams of ‘crack’ cocaine,” Fontoura noted.  “These narcotics were all packaged for street sale.”

Following the three arrests, the task force officers made a forced entry into the third floor apartment.

“In Blackstone, Jr.’s bedroom, a large black garbage bag, containing 2,746 grams of marijuana, was discovered,” Fontoura added.  “An orange pill bottle, containing ‘crack’ cocaine, was also discovered in the living room and our officers seized a Motorola home monitoring system which is typically employed by drug dealers.”

The street value of the narcotics seized at both apartments is approximately $35,000.

Blackstone, Jr. who remains at large was charged with two counts each of possession of a controlled dangerous substance and possession of CDS with intent to distribute and well as one count of the maintenance of a fortified structure.

The target’s son, Glenn Blackstone and Rajon Collins were each charged with two counts of possession of CDS, possession of CDS with intent to distribute and well as one count of possession of narcotics paraphernalia, conspiracy to violate New Jersey’s narcotics laws and resisting arrest by flight.

Efford was issued a summons for possession of CDS and released in his own recognizance.  He will be arraigned on April 25th.

Blackstone and Collins were lodged at the Essex County jail where they await a bail hearing.

Weapons/Narcotics Arrest

April 25, 2017

Contact: Sheriff Armando Fontoura (973) 621-4105

Newark – An alleged mid-level drug distributor and an armed suspect were arrested last night in separate incidents by Essex County sheriff’s officers.

Sheriff Armando Fontoura stated detectives from his department’s Bureau of Narcotics staged a plainclothes surveillance operation near the intersection of South 7th Street and 11th Avenue as part of a series of on-going drug investigations in that area on Monday evening.

“Here, our officers observed West Rodriguez, 40, an alleged member of the Crips street gang, exit his residence, located at 102 South 7th Street,” Sheriff Fontoura said.  “Rodriguez is known to law enforcement officers from previous investigations.”

Carrying a plastic bag, Rodriguez entered a 2016 Honda Accord.  As the suspect vehicle had illegally tinted windows and Rodriguez was not wearing his seatbelt, the sheriff’s officers immediately conducted a motor vehicle stop.

“As the Honda was pulled over, Rodriguez was observed throwing the plastic bag onto the front passenger seat floorboard,” Fontoura noted.  “The contents of the bag, 125 heroin-filled glassine envelops, stamped ‘PANDA’ in black ink, spilled onto the floorboard.  The suspect was placed under arrest and he was found to be in possession of $383 in cash.”

Following the arrest, the suspect’s grandmother consented to a search of their apartment.

“A book bag was found in Rodriguez’s bedroom.  It was found to contain a fully loaded, .40 caliber, Smith and Wesson semi-automatic handgun and an additional 1058 similarly marked decks of heroin, packed into bundles of 50, known on the street as ‘bricks’”, the sheriff added.

The street value of the narcotics is $125,000.

Rodriguez was charged with the unlawful possession of a weapon while committing a narcotics crime, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, 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 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School.

Later on Monday evening, officers from the sheriff’s Patrol Division conducted a motor vehicle stop of a 1998 Lexus on Eagles Parkway as it was driven with illegal blue-tinted headlights.

In questioning, the female driver, her female front seat passenger and the male backseat passenger, the sheriff’s officers detected the odor of burnt marijuana.

With leafy residue on the front of his shirt, the rear seat passenger, Terrell James, 30 of Newark, was asked to step out of the Lexus.

“As James exited the vehicle, our officers detected the barrel of a handgun protruding from under the rear seat,” Sheriff Fontoura said.  “As the loaded, .45 caliber, Hi-Point semi-automatic weapon was seized, James began engaged in a violent struggle with our officers.  Despite two blasts of oleo resin capsicum (pepper spray), James continued to flail his arms and legs at our officers.  He then attempted to run from the scene but was quickly captured and handcuffed.  Upon arrest, James was also found to be in possession of one heroin-filled glassine envelop.”

James was charged with the unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, possession of CDS and two counts of resisting arrest by force and by flight.

The other occupants of the Lexus were released.

Rodriguez and James were lodged at the Essex County jail where they await bail hearings on Monday’s charges.