Newark – Two alleged drug dealers were among four individuals arrested on Tuesday afternoon by Essex County sheriff’s detectives.
Sheriff Armando Fontoura stated that officers from his department’s Bureau of Narcotics staged a plainclothes surveillance operation near the intersection of West Kinney and Nevada streets in downtown Newark yesterday afternoon in response to numerous neighborhood complaints of open-air drug trafficking in the area.
At that location, the sheriff’s detectives observed three men, later identified as William Durrette, 25 of Newark, Dominique Horne, 26 of Irvington, and Jaleel Carter, 25 of Newark, loitering in the area.
“A passerby, Daniel Sokolowski, 32 of Livingston, engaged Durrette in a brief conversation,” Sheriff Fontoura said. “Our officers observed as Durrette removed an item from his waistband and exchanged it with Sokolowski for cash.”
Sokolowski was followed from the scene and was placed under arrest when he was found to be in possession of one plastic jug containing ‘crack’ cocaine.
“Our officers then moved in on the three suspects to further investigate,” Fontoura added. “Durrette was found to be in possession of an additional 8 jugs of ‘crack’ cocaine, two zip-lock bags of marijuana and $141 in cash. As Horne ran from the scene, he tossed a plastic bag into a nearby alleyway. Horne was quickly captured and his plastic bag was recovered. It was found to contain 135 heroin-filled glassine envelops, stamped ‘100% in red ink, and 55 jugs of ‘crack’ cocaine. Horne had $46 in cash on him at the time of his arrest.”
Carter was found to be the subject of two open warrants issued by the Newark municipal court and he was placed under arrest.
Durrette was charged with multiple counts of the sale, possession and intent to distribute narcotics.
Horne was also charged with multiple narcotics crimes and resisting arrest.
Durrette, Horne and Carter were lodged at the county jail.
Sokolowski was charged with possession of narcotics, issued a summons and released on his own recognizance. His court hearing is scheduled f