Public Safety Director Anthony F. Ambrose reports that police have arrested 41 individuals, recovered four guns and confiscated 363 decks of heroin, 345 vials of cocaine and 27 bags plastic bags of marijuana in an ongoing citywide narcotics and guns operation conducted from Monday, October 30th to Sunday, November 5th, 2017.
According to Director Ambrose, the operation, which was created in response to citizen complaints, has resulted in the removal of a total of $11,580.00 in street value drugs and $2,337.19 confiscated as proceeds from drug sales last week.
Director Ambrose said on Monday, October 30th, police arrested Jakim Fields, 20, and Alytilyah Butler, 21, both of Newark, for possession of two loaded handguns. At approximately 4:50 p.m., police responded to Pine Grove Terrace, near South Orange Avenue, on a call of individuals in the area with handguns.
Officers observed two men, Jakim Fields and Khabir Shepard, and a woman, Alytilyah Butler, who fit the description of the suspects.
Police observed Fields with a loaded .45 caliber handgun when they arrested her.
Officers found Alytilyah Butler in possession of a loaded .380 caliber handgun.
Jakim Fields and Alytilyah Butler are each charged with Unlawful Possession of a Weapon. Khabir Shepard is charged with Hindering Apprehension and Contempt of Court on an outstanding warrant.
Director Ambrose said on Thursday, November 2nd, officers arrested Jahied Griffith, 19, of Newark, for Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, Receiving Stolen Property and Certain Persons Prohibited from Weapon Possession after police observed him with a gun in the 600-block of South 20th Street.
The weapon, a loaded 9MM firearm, was reported stolen out of Pennsylvania Director Ambrose said.
According to Director Ambrose, on Sunday, November 5th, police observed narcotics sales in the area of Mount Pleasant Avenue near 3rd Avenue.
The suspects were seen selling drugs from a vacant apartment, where police recovered 122 decks of heroin, 39 vials of cocaine, and 46 grams of marijuana.
Police also recovered a loaded 9MM handgun.
Police took seven individuals were taken into custody, including a 15-year-old and a 17-year-old, both from Newark.
Along with the juveniles arrested were: David F. Taylor, 21, Donald Brown, 31, Arthur Qualls, 18, Ronald A. Terry, 26, all of Newark, and Kevin A. Bell, 24, of Irvington.
All seven arrested individuals are charged with three counts each of CDS Possession (heroin, cocaine and marijuana), three counts of CDS Possession with the Intent to Distribute, CDS Distribution Within 1,000-ft. of a School, CDS Distribution Within 500-ft. of a Housing Complex, along with Conspiracy to Commit CDS Offenses, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, Possession of Prohibited Ammunition (hollow point bullets) and Defiant Trespassing. T
he adults were each additionally charged with Employing a Juvenile Director Ambrose said..
Included in last week’s arrests are 17 individuals apprehended for Contempt of Court on outstanding warrants, 16 narcotics-related arrests and others arrested for CDS Possession, CDS Distribution or Wandering to Purchase CDS. Each suspect is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Director Ambrose is urging anyone with information about any crimes 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