Police in Newark announced the recovery of three weapons Thursday in two separate incidents, one involving a drug dealer and the other during a code enforcement check of a vacant house.
According to authorities, Mr. Joshua Arce, 25, was arrested on the 200 block of Garside St., by a Police Division’s Crime Prevention Team in the vicinity due to citizen complaints of open-air drug dealing.
Authorities say, as police approached Arce and several others tried to leave the area but were detained. Detectives said Arce shoved three decks of heroin down his pants, which came out by his foot while they were talking to him.
Police say Arce was near a black bag containing a loaded handgun with a taped handle.
As Arce was being arrested in yelled to a man across the street to “check the yard.” Police then went into the yard of the residence and found a can with 37 decks of heroin in it police said.
Police charged Arce with multiple weapons and drug offenses, including intent to distribute with 100 feet of a school.
Earlier that day, police were sent to a vacant home where city code officials were going to evict squatters due to multiple complaints from the neighborhood. While the house was empty, police recovered a loaded handgun and an assault rifle with a scope and ammunition.
That case remains under investigation.
“In both cases, we responded quickly to resident complaints,” Ambrose said. “The police welcome help from the community to continue to keep the city safe, Newark Public Safety Director Ambrose said”