According to Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose, the first arrest occurred shortly before midnight when officers from the 4th Precinct were responding to reports of gunfire in the Vailsburg section of the city. As the officers approached a Salem Street address, where the shots were reportedly being fired, they saw a lone man hiding near a porch. After a check, they arrested 25-year-old Newark resident Marsh O’Neil for carrying a gun. He was charged with unlawful possession of a gun. During this ongoing investigation, detectives will determine if O’Neil is the individual reportedly shooting a gun in the area.
At around 4:30 this morning, two 3rd Precinct officers were dispatched to investigate a citizen’s complaint of two suspicious cars, a Ford and a Chrysler driving very slowly through the neighborhood. The caller suspected that based on their actions, the occupants were going to rob someone or break into a car.
While investigating the complaint that caller alerted the officers that one of the passengers from the Chrysler, dressed in black clothing, was walking on Astor Street. As the two officers approached the suspect, later identified as 25-year-old East Orange resident, Christopher Brown they saw him clutching a gun.
At seeing the officers, Brown ran and was chased through the neighborhood before being caught by backup officers. The gun he was carrying was recovered as was a second gun found in the Chrysler which was parked a short distance from where the officers originally spotted him.
Brown was arrested without any further incident and charged with two counts of possession of a handgun, resisting arrest and obstructing the administration of law.
Director Ambrose said, “This is just another example of citizens taking a vested interest in neighborhood and working with law enforcement. The caller saw someone something and said something. The caller’s suspicions appear to be correct, he likely prevented Brown from committing a crime. He also helped police by providing detailed information making it easy to spot the suspect and to easily locate the Chrysler.
Director Ambrose encouraged the residents to continue to be vigilant and if they see something to say something by either calling 911 or if they wish to remain anonymous, to take advantage of one of the Department's 24-hour Crime Stoppers’ tip line at 877 NWK-TIPS (877 695-8477) or NWK-GUNS (877 695-4867). All anonymous Crime Stopper tips are kept confidential.