Multiple Drug Charge Arrest

Newark – An alleged narcotics dealer and his alleged buyer were arraigned today following their arrests yesterday by Essex County sheriff’s detectives.

In response to neighborhood complaints of open air drug trafficking in the area of Fairmount and South Orange avenues in Newark, Sheriff Armando Fontoura stated that officers from his department’s Bureau of Narcotics conducted a plainclothes surveillance operation at that location on Tuesday.

“A suspect, later identified as Jerell Christopher, 28 of Newark, was observed loitering at that location,” Sheriff Fontoura said.  “Christopher was soon approached by a male passerby, later identified as Roderick Stewart, Jr., 47 of Florham Park.  After a brief conversation between the two suspects, Christopher walked to a nearby residence, located at 222 Fairmount Avenue, and removed a clear plastic bag that had been secreted behind a wooden fence.”

The sheriff’s BON detectives watched as Christopher removed an item from the bag and exchanged it with Steward for cash.

“Our detectives immediately moved in to detain the suspects and further investigate,” Fontoura added.  “Stewart was found to be in possession of one vial of ‘crack’ cocaine.  Christopher’s plastic bag was retrieved from behind the fence and it was found to contain 73 vials of ‘crack’ cocaine and 37 heroin-filled envelops, stamped ‘FIRE’ in red ink.”

Christopher was charged with multiple counts of the sale, possession and distribution of cocaine and heroin as well as hindering law enforcement by providing them with false information.  Christopher was also found to be the subject of open warrants issued by the Newark and Belleville municipal courts.

Stewart was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance and was found to be the subject of open warrants issued by the Morris County Sheriff’s Office and the East Orange and Mt. Olive municipal courts.

At today’s arraignments, bail on Christopher was set at $75,000 and on Stewart at $25,000.  Both suspects were lodged at the county jail.

Crack/Heroin Arrest

Newark – A city man was arraigned today on multiple drug charges following his arrest on Friday by Essex County sheriff’s detectives.

Sheriff Armando Fontoura stated that officers from his department’s Bureau of Narcotics staged a plainclothes surveillance operation late last week in response to numerous neighborhood complaints of open air drug trafficking near the intersection of North 9th Street and 4th Avenue.

“At that time, a suspect, later identified as Ibn Waller, 18 of Newark, was observed loitering in front of 212 North 9th Street,” Sheriff Fontoura said.

Within minutes, a male passerby stopped at the location and engaged in a brief conversation with Waller who withdrew items from his fanny pack and exchanged them with the male for cash.

“Believing they had just witnessed a drug sale, our BON detectives moved in to further investigate,” Fontoura added.  “Waller’s fanny pack was found to contain 177 vials of ‘crack’ cocaine, 27 heroin-filled envelops, stamped ‘KILLING SEASON’ in red ink and $142 in cash.”

Waller was placed under arrest and 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 Dr. William Horton School.

A canvass of the area for the suspected buyer proved unsuccessful.

At today’s arraignment, Waller was ordered held at the county jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.

Drug Arrests

Newark – Three male suspects were arraigned today on multiple drug charges following their arrests yesterday afternoon by Essex County sheriff’s detectives.

Sheriff Armando Fontoura stated that officers from his department’s Bureau of Narcotics staged a plainclothes surveillance operation in the area of Avon Avenue and 18th Street in Newark’s West Ward, a known drug trafficking location.

“Our BON detectives immediately observed three suspects, later identified as Robert Fuller, 25, Shaquan Johnson, 25, and Muhammad Hutson, 31, loitering in the area,” Sheriff Fontoura said. “Fuller and Hutson are from Newark and Johnson is from East Orange.”

A male passerby engaged Hutson in conversation and Hutson gave a hand signal to Fuller who reached into his pants pocket and exchanged an item for cash.

“When the passerby walked away, our detectives moved in to further investigate,” Fontoura added.  “Fuller ran from the scene through an alleyway and over a few backyard fences.  As he ran, Fuller discarded items from his pants pocket.  He was quickly captured and the recovered items proved to be 23 vials of ‘crack’ cocaine and 33 heroin-filled envelops, stamped “HAWAIIAN PUNCH” in red ink.  He was also found to be in possession of $156 in cash.”

Johnson was found to be in possession of an additional 45 decks of heroin and $197 while Hutson was found to be in possession of $305.

Fuller was charged with two 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 Madison Avenue School, and one count each of resisting arrest and conspiracy to violate New Jersey’s narcotics laws.

 

Johnson and Hutson were charged with possession of CDS, possession of CDS with intent to distribute possession of CDS with intent to distribute with 1000 feet of Madison Avenue School and conspiracy to violate New Jersey’s narcotics laws.

A canvas of the area for the passerby proved unsuccessful.

At today’s arraignments, all three suspects were ordered held at the county jail on a bail of $35,000 each.