Newark – A suspected drug dealer and his alleged buyer were arrested late Thursday afternoon by Essex County sheriff’s detectives.
Sheriff Armando Fontoura stated that officers from his department’s Bureau of Narcotics conducted a plainclothes surveillance operation near the intersection of South 6th Street and Springfield Avenue in response to neighborhood complaints of open-air drug trafficking in the area.
“Our detectives observed 18-year-old Rajohn Abney of Newark pacing back and forth in front of 421 South 6th Street when a 2002 Honda Civic with two occupants pulled up and parked at the scene,” Sheriff Fontoura said. “After a brief conversation with the vehicle’s passenger, later identified as Lawrence Sneed, 56 of East Orange, Abney walked down the alleyway of the residence, dislodged a piece of loose building siding and removed an item from a yellow pill bottle that was secreted there.”
Abney then returned to the Honda and exchanged the item with Sneed for cash.
The Honda drove away but it was followed by the sheriff’s detectives who then conducted a motor vehicle stop.
Authorities said Sneed was found to have one heroin-filled glassine envelop, stamped ‘RENEGADE’ in red ink, on his lap and was placed under arrest.
“Abney was detained as our officers further investigated,” Fontoura added. “Behind the siding our detectives discovered and seized three pill bottles and a plastic bag that were found to contain an additional 139 similarly marked decks of heroin, 96 vials of ‘crack’ cocaine and 78 Xanax tablets.
Abney was also in possession of $50 cash.”
Abney was charged with three counts each of the possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of CDS with intent to distribute and possession of CDS with intent to distribute within 1000 feet of Marion P. Thomas Charter School.
Abney was also charged with the sale and distribution of CDS.
Sneed was charged with possession of CDS.
Both suspects were lodged at the county jail where they await bail hearing on Thursday’s charges.
The driver of the Honda was released without charges or further incident.