Two Newark men were arrested Wednesday afternoon following simultaneous raids on both of their North Ward townhouse apartments.
According to a statement released by The Essex County Sheriff's Department, detectives from the Bureau of Narcotics, Newark, and Irvington police departments, yesterday executed two search warrants on the 200 block of Mt. Pleasant Avenue.
Officials say the front door to the residence and the apartment door wide open, officers had no problem serving Angel Torres, 60, with the warrant.
A search of his apartment yielded a fully loaded, .38 caliber, Rossi revolver and a cache of 55 additional rounds of ammunition. Police arrested Torres who was also found to be in possession of four vials of ‘crack’ cocaine and $24 in alleged drug proceeds according to authorities.
According to authorities, across the common hall of the townhouse, forced entry was made into 73-year-old Sergio Orama’s apartment.
There, officials say they found 76 grams of ‘crack’ cocaine, some of which had already been packaged for street sale, and a wide assortment of drug processing materials on his living room table.
Detectives arrested Orama and ultimately confiscated $153 in alleged drug proceeds.
Officials say the estimated street value of the narcotics is $4,000.
Police charged Torres and Orama with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of CDS with intent to distribute, possession of CDS with intent to distribute within1000 feet of Technology High School and possession of CDS with intent to distribute within 500 feet of a public housing complex.
Officials say Torres was additionally charged with possession of a weapon by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm while committing a CDS crime.
While Orama was also found to be the subject of five open warrants issued by the Newark municipal court.
Officials say both suspects were lodged at the county jail where they await bail hearings.