August 30, 2018

Contact: Sheriff Armando Fontoura (973) 621-4105

Newark – In simultaneous raids by a law enforcement task force on two North Ward townhouse apartments on Wednesday afternoon, two suspects were arrested and weapons and drug charges were filed against them.

Sheriff Armando Fontoura stated that the task force, comprised of detectives from his department’s Bureau of Narcotics and the Newark and Irvington police departments, yesterday executed two search warrants at 211 Mt. Pleasant Avenue.

“With the front door to the residence and the apartment door wide open, our officers had no problem serving Angel Torres, 60, with the warrant,” Sheriff Fontoura said.  “The search of his apartment yielded a fully loaded, .38 caliber, Rossi revolver and a cache of 55 additional rounds of ammunition.  Torres was placed under arrest and he was also found to be in possession of four vials of ‘crack’ cocaine and $24 in alleged drug proceeds.”

Across the common hall of the townhouse, a forced entry was necessary to gain access to 73-year-old Sergio Orama’s apartment.

“Orama was found at his living room table which contained 76 grams of ‘crack’ cocaine, some of which had already been packaged for street sale, and a wide assortment of drug processing materials,” Fontoura added.  “He was arrested and $153 in alleged drug proceeds was confiscated from him.”

The estimated street value of the narcotics is $4,000.

Torres and Orama were both charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of CDS with intent to distribute, possession of CDS with intent to distribute within1000 feet of Technology High School and possession of CDS with intent to distribute within 500 feet of a public housing complex.

Torres was additionally charged with possession of a weapon by a convicted felon and possession of a weapon while committing a CDS crime.

Orama was also found to be the subject of five open warrants issued by the Newark municipal court.

Both suspects were lodged at the county jail where they await bail hearings.