August 31, 2018

Contact: Sheriff Armando Fontoura (973) 621-4105

Newark – Essex County sheriff’s officers tonight administered Naxalon (NARCAN) to a motorist whose vehicle was found stopped at the Clifton Avenue exit to Branch Brook Park.

Sheriff Armando Fontoura stated that officers from his department’s Patrol Division observed a 2018 Chevrolet Suburban SUV at the recreational facility at 7:00 p.m. this evening.

“Behind to wheel, the driver, later identified as Lionel Davis, 58, of Charlotte, North Carolina, was found to be unconscious and unresponsive,” Sheriff Fontoura said.  “On the center console of the vehicle our officers discovered 10 heroin-filled envelops, stamped ‘SAVAGE’ in red ink.”

Two weeks ago, similarly marked heroin were confiscated from a Newark suspect in a series of raids by sheriff’s officers in the city’s North Ward.

“Our officers utilized a hammer to break the vehicle’s windows, removed Mr. Davis from his car, and administered Naxalone and oxygen to revive him,” Fontoura added.

The victim was transported to St. Michael’s Hospital where he is expected to recover.