Six male suspects, arrested on Tuesday as the result of four separate investigations conducted by the Essex County sheriff’s Bureau of Narcotics throughout the city, were arraigned today on multiple drug charges. “Our investigations, prompted by neighborhood complaints of open air narcotics trafficking at numerous locations within Newark, began early and ended late yesterday,” Sheriff Armando Fontoura stated. According to the sheriff, the first of the four plainclothes surveillance operations was mounted Tuesday morning at the intersection of South 16th Street and 15th Avenue.
“At this location, our BON detectives observed as Dwight Davis, age 46 of Newark, arrived in the scene in a silver SUV,” Sheriff Fontoura said. “
Upon exiting the SUV, Davis was then approached by a male suspect who until then had gone undetected. Davis exchanged cash with the other suspect for a small plastic bag.” The unidentified suspect took possession of Davis’ car keys and drove away from the scene. “As Davis positioned himself at the intersection he furtively scanned the location,” Fontoura added. “Soon, he opened the plastic bag and began taking inventory of its contents which contained numerous glassine envelops.” Believing they had witnessed a narcotics transaction, the sheriff’s BON detectives announced their presence and moved in to further investigate. “The plastic bag was found to contain 103 decks of heroin, stamped ‘TURN UP’ in red ink,” the sheriff said and Davis was placed under arrest.
At noon, the second undercover operation was staged. At the intersection of South 15th Street and 14th Avenue, Andre Francis and Bernard White, both aged 37 and residents of Newark, were observed loitering in the area. They were soon approached by a passerby, later identified as Jimmy Hampton, 47 from Newark.
After a brief conversation, Francis was seen walking down the alleyway of a nearby residence where he removed items from a cigarette box that had been placed on a concrete ledge of the building. The items were exchanged with Hampton for cash. Hampton was followed on foot by BON detectives and detained a few blocks away. The suspect was found to be in possession of heroin filled envelops, stamped ‘THRILLA’ in blue ink. Back at the scene, Francis and White were detained while the cigarette box was searched. It was found to contain an addition 57 similarly marked decks of heroin and the two suspects were taken into custody.
The sheriff’s third BON surveillance operation took place at South 19th Street and Avon Avenue shortly before 5:00 p.m. As Aljamar Dickerson, age 23 of Newark, was being watched as he loitered in the area, a 1988 Ford 150 pick-up truck driven by a male, later identified as James Staples, age 46 also of Newark, pulled up and parked at the intersection. Dickerson walked over to Staples, engaged him in conversation and then exchanged items from his pants pocket for cash. Staples was followed from the scene and pulled over.
He was found to be in possession of one glassine heroin filled envelop, stamped ‘DELIRIOUS’ in red ink. “As our BON detectives announced their presence to interrogate Dickerson, the suspect attempted to run from the scene,” Sheriff Fontoura said. “He was quickly captured and found to be in possession of an additional 44 decks of heroin.”
Tuesday’s fourth BON surveillance operation occurred in the evening at 949 Frelinghuysen Avenue. At this location, the BON detectives watched as Jahquill Turner, age 34 from Newark, and Laquan Martin, age 27 of Irvington, loitered in the area. Following a brief conversation with a male passerby, Turner exchanged items from his waistband for cash. The passerby immediately exited the scene on foot. The sheriff’s BON detectives then announced their presence in order further investigate.
During a patdown search for officer safety, Turner was found to be in possession of 82 plastic bags of ‘crack’ cocaine and Martin was found to possess 2 methamphetamine-filled capsules.
Davis was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of CDS with intent to distribute and possession of CDS with intent to distribute within 1000 feet of Marion Thomas Charter School. He was also found to the subject of an open warrant issued by the Superior Court for willful non-support.
Francis and White were charges with the sale of CDS, possession of CDS with intent to distribute, possession of CDS with intent to distribute with 1000 feet of North Star Academy and conspiracy to violate New Jersey’s narcotics laws.
Dickerson was charged with the sale, possession, intent to distribute CDS, intent to distribute CDS within 1000 feet of Madison Avenue School and resisting arrest. Turner and Martin were charged with possession of CDS, possession of CDS with intent to distribute and possession of CDS with intent to distribute within 500 feet of a public housing complex.
At today’s arraignment, cash bond only bails were imposed upon the six alleged drug distributors: Davis, $75,000; Francis and White, $45,000 each; Dickerson, $55,000; and, Turner, $55,000, and Martin, $30,000. Alleged drug buyers Staples and Hampton were issued summonses for possession of CDS and released in their own recognizant. They will be arraigned at a later date.