Vailsburg Weapons/Narcotics Arrest

Vailsburg Weapons/Narcotics Arrest

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

May 24, 2017

Contact: Sheriff Armando Fontoura (973) 621-4105

Newark – An armed suspect was arrested on Tuesday by Essex County sheriff’s detectives and weapons and drug charges were filed against him.

Sheriff Armando Fontoura stated that officers from his department’s Bureau of Narcotics staged a plainclothes surveillance operation yesterday afternoon near the intersection of West End Avenue and Howell Place in the Vailsburg section of the city in response to neighborhood complaints of open-air drug trafficking in the area.

“At this location, our officers observed Tywan McClendon, 20, of Newark, and another male loitering at the intersection,” Sheriff Fontoura said.  “As our BON detectives watched the two suspects, McClendon continuously adjusted an item in his waistband which is consistent with a person who is armed.”

A male passerby soon approached McClendon and after a brief conversation exchanged an item from his pocket with the man for cash.

“Believing they had witnessed a drug sale, our detectives moved in to further investigate,” Fontoura added.  “McClendon immediately raised both of his arms in surrender and advised our officers ‘I got a ratchet on me’.”

The sheriff noted that a “ratchet” is street jargon for a handgun.

In placing McClendon under arrest, the sheriff’s detectives found that he was in possession of a .38 caliber Taurus handgun, fully loaded with illegal hollow point bullets, 18 glass vials of ‘crack’ cocaine and $9 in cash.

McClendon was charged with the unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon while committing a narcotics crime, possession of hollow point bullets, 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 Alexander Street School.

McClendon was also found to be the subject of two bench warrants, issued by the Essex County Superior Court vicinage, for prior narcotics charges, and by warrants issued the Newark and Carlstadt municipal courts.

The other suspect at the intersection was later identified as Khyree Walker, 19 of Newark, who was found to be the subject of two open warrants issued by the Newark municipal court.

McClendon and Walker were both lodged at the county jail where they await a respective bail hearing and an appearance in Newark municipal court.

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