A drug suspect, armed with a handgun and rounds of hollow-point bullets, was arrested Wednesday afternoon by Essex County sheriff’s officers.
Sheriff Armando Fontoura stated that uniformed officers from his department’s Bureau of Narcotics were conducting a narcotics investigation in the area of 7th Avenue and Webster Street in Newark's Central Ward on Wednesday afternoon when their marked cruiser observed a black Nissan Maxima commit a motor vehicle violation.
“Upon spotting the violation, our officers activated lights and sirens and made a motor vehicle stop,” Sheriff Fontoura said. “When our officers approached the vehicle, the driver, later identified as Alomeen Williams, 21, of Newark, began to open up the driver's side door of the vehicle.”
According to police, when asked by officers why he had opened the door of the vehicle, Williams responded that his driver's side window was not functional. It was at this time that the officers asked Williams for his license and registration.
“Upon request for his license, Williams began to fiddle around the vehicle grabbing papers and moving items," said Fontoura. "It was at this time, that our officers observed what they recognized through training and experience to be an extended magazine of a handgun protruding from a black leather satchel located on the front passenger seat of the vehicle. At this point, our officers requested that Williams step out of the vehicle, in order to separate him from the potential firearm."
Police report that rather than follow the officer's request to remove himself from the vehicle, Williams immediately attempted to put the car in drive and put his foot on the gas pedal.
With the driver's side door still open and Williams attempting to flee the scene, the officers jumped into the vehicle in an attempt to stop him.
"Our officers quick thinking allowed them to quickly enter the vehicle and prevent Williams from fleeing by using the emergency parking brake to keep the car stopped," the Sheriff said. "During the struggle, Williams kept attempting to reach for the weapon that was on the passenger side of the vehicle. After many attempts of ordering Williams to stop, and with the fear of injury or loss of life during the struggle, Williams was struck with an open fist by one of the officers."
Once removed from the vehicle, a pair of officers attempted to place Williams under arrest. At the same time, one of the officers secured the handgun, which was later identified as a black Glock 22 .40 Caliber handgun.
The weapon was loaded with 27 rounds in an extended magazine also containing 10 hollow-point bullets.
In addition to the handgun and ammunition, four bundles of CDS Heroin, with a street value totaling $280, were found inside of William's vehicle.
Williams was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a handgun, illegal possession of an extended magazine, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, resisting arrest, and assault on a police officer.
Williams was transported to the Essex County Correctional Facility, where he will await a hearing on his charges.