May 16, 2017

Contact: Sheriff Armando Fontoura (973) 621-4105

East Orange – A Newark man was arrested last night on weapons charges by Essex County sheriff’s officers.

Sheriff Armando Fontoura stated that uniformed officers from his department were on patrol on Central Avenue on Monday at 10:50 p.m. when the observed a 2016 Dodge Charger traveling at a high rate of speed in the eastbound lanes.

“Our officers activated overhead lights and sirens in an attempt to conduct a motor vehicle stop but the Charger crashed into two other vehicles at the intersection of South 20^th Street,” Sheriff Fontoura said.  “Four male suspects bailed out of the vehicle.  The front seat passenger, later identified as Alshaquan Rodwell, 18 of Newark, was taken into custody after a brief foot chase.”

On the front passenger seat of the Charger, the sheriff’s officers discovered and seized a fully loaded, .22 caliber, Taurus semi-automatic handgun.  The Charger, found to have been stolen out of Newark on May 10, 2017, also displayed stolen license plates.

Rodwell was charged with possession of a handgun without a permit, resisting arrest by flight and two counts of receiving stolen property.  He was lodged at the county jail where he awaits a bail hearing.

No injuries were reported as a result of the car crash.