Police officials in newark are reporting that Newark Police and the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office have recovered seven loaded handguns, two assault rifles and a 12-gauge shotgun from city streets within a 24-hour period.
According to a statement released by Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose, detectives assigned to the Criminal Intell Section were involved in several narcotics operations in the 200 block of Oraton Street where they eventually gathered evidence which led them to obtain a search warrant for the location.
According to Director Ambrose, on Friday, October 19th, 2018, at 6:15 a.m., detectives executed the search warrant and recovered two loaded handguns, a .38 Saturday Night Special and a .357 revolver, an assortment of pills and over $2,215.00 in drug proceeds.
Police arrested Mr. Ernesto Arroyo, 35, of Newark, then charged him with two counts of unlawful possession of the handguns, possession of CDS, possession of CDS with the intent to distribute and several other related offenses according to Director Ambrose.
Later the same day, acting on a tip, detectives responded to an abandoned building in the 800 block of South 19th Street. Upon entry into the structure, detectives recovered two loaded .9 millimeter handguns, 44 vials of cocaine and 40 decks of heroin where the investigation into this incident is active and ongoing Director Ambrose said.
Police say at approximately 9:30 p.m., detectives in the 100 block of Broad Street observed an unknown male in possession of narcotics. They approached the man and found him to be in possession of 84 decks of heroin and 20 vials of cocaine.
Police arrested **Mr. Michael Graham, 35, of Newark,** then charged him with two counts each of possession of CDS and possession with intent to distribute CDS within 500 feet of public housing; forty dollars in proceeds were confiscated.
According to Dr/ Ambrose, on Sunday, just before 2:00 a.m., crime suppression units working in the 5th Precinct observed a motor vehicle violation. Officers stopped the vehicle in the area of Chancellor Avenue and Wainwright Street where officers approached the driver of the car and requested his credentials.
Police say as the driver reached for his paperwork, officers observed a handgun in the rear pocket of the passenger seat.
Officers recovered a loaded Glock .9 millimeter with a large capacity magazine according to police.
Police arrested the driver, Mr. Royce Darby, 40, of Newark then charged him with the unlawful possession of a weapon, prohibited weapons, devices and certain persons not to have weapons.
Director Ambrose said, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Taskforce detectives, which has officers assigned from Newark, executed a search warrant in the 300 block of Lyons Avenue in Newark.
Officers recovered a stolen Kimber Warrior .45 caliber handgun, an Intra-Tech 18 .9 millimeter handgun, two assault rifles, one Mossenburg 500A 12-gauge shotgun, a significant amount of heroin, drug packaging paraphernalia and $195 in cash.
Authorities implicated three people in this incident, Alexandria Reid, 29, Mark Mells, 33 and Geraldine Mells, 54, all of Newark.
Police say Mark Mells is presently at large and Reid have been charged with four counts of possession of an assault weapon, three counts of possession of large capacity magazines, possession of CDS, possession within 1,000 feet of a school, possession with intent to distribute, resisting arrest, receiving stolen property and conspiracy.
Police say G. Mells has been charged with conspiracy.
“The weapons that are being recovered in city are real cause for concern. Every gun we remove from our city streets saves a life potentially. I commend our officers and our partners in the ECPO for their dedication and hard work they do,” said Director Ambrose.
These charges are merely accusations. Each suspect is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Director Ambrose urges anyone with information about any crime in the City to call the Department's 24-hour Crime Stopper tip line at 1-877-NWK-TIPS (1-877-695-8477) or 1-877-NWK-GUNS (1-877-695-4867). All anonymous Crime Stopper tips are kept confidential and could result in a reward.