An 20-year-old Newark suspect was arrested Tuesday by Essex County sheriff’s detectives and was is facing weapon and drug charges.
According to authorities, officers from Bureau of Narcotics staged a plainclothes surveillance operation yesterday afternoon near the intersection of West End Avenue and Howell Place in the Vailsburg section of the city in response to neighborhood complaints of open-air drug trafficking in the area.
At this location, officers observed Tywan McClendon, 20, of Newark, and another male loitering at the intersection,” Sheriff Fontoura said. “As our BON detectives watched the two suspects, McClendon continuously adjusted an item in his waistband which is consistent with a person who is armed.”
A male passerby soon approached McClendon and after a brief conversation exchanged an item from his pocket with the man for cash. Believing they had witnessed a drug sale, detectives moved in to further investigate.
McClendon immediately raised both of his arms in surrender and advised officers, "I got a ratchet (street jargon for a handgun) on me".
In placing McClendon under arrest, the detectives found that he was in possession of a .38 caliber Taurus handgun, fully loaded with illegal hollow point bullets, 18 glass vials of ‘crack’ cocaine and $9 in cash.
He was charged with the unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon while committing a narcotics crime, possession of hollow point bullets, 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 Alexander Street School.
McClendon was also found to be the subject of two bench warrants, issued by the Essex County Superior Court vicinage, for prior narcotics charges, and by warrants issued the Newark and Carlstadt municipal courts.
The other suspect at the intersection was later identified as Khyree Walker, 19 of Newark, who was found to be the subject of two open warrants issued by the Newark municipal court.
McClendon and Walker were both lodged at the county jail where they await a respective bail hearing and an appearance in Newark municipal court.
A canvass of the area for the suspected drug buyer was unsuccessful.