An alleged drug suspect, armed with a semi-automatic handgun, was arrested this morning by Essex County sheriff’s officers.
According to Sheriff Armando Fontoura, uniformed officers from his department’s Patrol Division were conducting quality of life operations on Clinton Avenue on Sunday when their marked cruiser observed three males who had congregated at the South 18th Street intersection.
“Upon spotting our officers, all three men ran from the scene in different directions,” Sheriff Fontoura said. “As one of the suspects ran, he held his right hand in his waistband which is consistent with suspects seeking to hold on to narcotics or guns.”
The suspect, later identified as Shane Rodriguez, 18, of Newark ran into a nearby backyard and attempted to scale a fence to elude the sheriff’s officers.
“Our officers were quickly upon Rodriguez and tackled him to the ground,” Fontoura noted. “As the suspect refused to release his hand from whatever he was holding in his waistband, oleo resin capsicum (pepper spray) was utilized on him for officer safety.
A search of Rodriguez’s waistband yielded a fully loaded and defaced, 9mm Hi-Point semi-automatic handgun and 15 vials of ‘crack’ cocaine.”
Rodriguez was charged with the unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes, possession of a defaced weapon, possession of a weapon while committing a narcotics crime, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of CDS with intent to distribute, possession of CDS with intent to distribute within 1000 feet of Blessed Sacrament School, possession of CDS with intent to distribute within 500 feet of public housing and resisting arrest.
Rodriguez was lodged at the county jail where he awaits a bail hearing on today’s charges.