Newark- As the result of two separate investigations, three suspects, including a mother and her daughter, were arrested on multiple drug charges Wednesday and Thursday evening by Essex County sheriff’s detectives.
Sheriff Armando Fontoura stated that detectives from his department’s Bureau of Narcotics conducted a pair of operations as a part of ongoing investigations into narcotics activity in the city's central and west wards.
The investigations, which took place over two nights, saw sheriff's detectives recover over $3600 in illegal narcotics.
“Our officers were provided several tips from concerned citizens about increased narcotics activity in the area of an apartment complex on the corner of Roseville Avenue and 3rd Avenue West," Sheriff Fontoura said.
“Our BON detectives and members of our tactical response team approached the building, announced their presence, and proceeded to enter.
Once inside, our officers discovered several forms of illegal narcotics activity.”
Inside of the building, officers witnessed Angel Bonilla, 44 of Newark, emerge from Apt. 6 and slip an unidentified plastic bag containing a white substance into his back pocket.
Based off of their training and experience, the officers immediately identified this substance as illegal narcotics. They approached Bonilla and placed him under arrest.
"Once officers placed Bonilla into custody, they then entered the apartment where they located Sandra Almodovar, 47 of Puerto Rico, who was in the process of cutting up and packaging cocaine," Fontoura said.
The following day, Fontoura’s BON detectives conducted a traffic stop on the corner of Mount Prospect Avenue and Victoria Avenue. During the stop, officers arrested the 17-year-old daughter of Sandra Almodovar for possession of illegal narcotics.
"Our officers observed a black Nissan Altima driving recklessly in the area of 89 Mount Prospect Avenue. They proceeded to make a routine motor vehicle stop, and once they approached the vehicle, they realized the identity of the juvenile female," the Sheriff explained.
"Our officers noticed that the female had her hand clenched as if she were attempting to hide something.
They then asked her to open her hand and discovered she had a vial with a silver top containing suspected CDS Crack Cocaine."
Upon her arrest, the juvenile female also turned over several other forms of illegal narcotics.
In total, Sheriff's detectives seized over seven grams of CDS Heroin and over 28 grams of CDS Crack-Cocaine, whose street value totaled over $3000.
Additionally, the team of detectives apprehended drug-making paraphernalia and $390 in narcotics proceeds.
Bonilla was charged with illegal possession of a controlled dangerous substance and possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute.
Police say Almodovar was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, maintaining an illegally fortified structure and willful non-support.
Additionally, Almodovar was also found to have an open sheriff's warrant.
The juvenile female was charged with illegal possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, possession of a controlled dangerous substance within 50 feet of public property, operating a motor vehicle without a license and improper use of a turn signal.
Upon further investigation, officers discovered that Almodovar is the wife of Icxandro Santiago, 38, an alleged member of "The Latin Kings" who was arrested by sheriff's detectives in October of 2018. Santiago is the step-father of the juvenile female.
Both Almodovar and Bonilla were transported to the Essex County Correctional Facility while the juvenile female was transported to the Essex County Juvenile Detention Center.