Essex County Sheriff’s Office

NEWS RELEASE

April 18, 2018

Contact: Sheriff Armando Fontoura (973) 621-4105

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

Sheriff Armando Fontoura stated that the surveillance operation on Tuesday afternoon was prompted by numerous neighborhood complaints of open-air drug trafficking.

“Shortly after 2:00 p.m., our detectives observed Kasheem Kelly, 33, of Newark, and Rashad Zeigler, 31, of Newark, loitering in front of 120 Sheppard Avenue,” Sheriff Fontoura said.  “Soon, they were approached by Nasier Jackson, 19, of Newark.”

After a brief conversation, Jackson handed Ziegler an undisclosed amount of paper currency and was directed to Kelly who unlocked the trunk of a parked 2012 Chrysler and removed items from the car.

“Upon receiving the items, Jackson walked from the scene with our team of detectives following close behind,” Fontoura said.

Jackson was stopped on Bergen Avenue and, upon questioning, turned over two small plastic bags of marijuana and was placed under arrest.

Returning to the scene of the alleged narcotics sale, Kelly entered the driver’s seat of the Chrysler while Zeigler entered the front passenger seat of a 2003 blue Honda Accord.

Detectives simultaneously approached the two cars, removed Kelly and Zeigler from their vehicles and placed them under arrest.

“Moments after placing both Kelly and Zeigler under arrest, the detectives observed a purse under the driver’s seat of the white Chrysler containing multiple small red jugs containing a white rock like substance.” Sheriff Fontoura said. “These items were positively identified as crack-cocaine.”

Inside the trunk of the white Chrysler, detectives also recovered 20 envelopes containing Heroin and a large clear zip bag with 41 small clear zip lock baggies containing Marijuana. A further search of Kelly discovered him to have $639 in U.S. currency on his person, while a further search of Zeigler discovered him to have $11 in U.S. currency. The white Chrysler was further searched later and was discovered to have $130 in U.S. currency in its back right passenger seat.

In total, the detectives recovered 182 jugs of crack cocaine, 41 bags of marijuana, 20 decks of heroin, as well as $780.00 in suspected narcotics proceeds.

Kelly and Zeigler charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substances, possession with intent to distribute CDS and conspiracy to violate New Jersey’s narcotics laws.

Kelly and Zeigler are currently being lodged at the county jail where they await bail hearings.