An initiative to battle the criminal element and restore law and order in Newark has had an applaudable weekend with officers busting several alleged criminals in the city.
Police in Newark are reporting that those who work this initiative -citywide- made multiple arrests of suspects for armed robberies, carjackings and weapons possession, along with the recovery of five illegal handguns this weekend as part of the ‘Newark Police Division’s Violence Reduction Initiative.’
According to Newark Police officials, Sunday, Mr. James Marrow, 36, of East Orange, and Ms. Limmary Ortiz-Rivera, 31, of Newark, were arrested following a robbery at Delta Gas Station 638 Raymond Boulevard.
Police say the suspects arrived at the gas station in a gray 2009 Chevy Malibu and demanded the attendant’s cash at knifepoint before fleeing.
Police observed the vehicle moments later at Mobil Gas Station, 1139-1153 Broad Street, where Rivera and Marrow were arrested.
Police say the suspects’ vehicle had been reported in a carjacking out of Elizabeth. Marrow faces charges of robbery, unlawful possession of a weapon, firearm possession for an illegal purpose and resisting arrest.
Police charged Ortiz-Rivera with robbery.
Newark Police said a 14-year-old male from Newark was also arrested Sunday after he was observed fleeing with a group of males as police were responding to a ShotSpotter activation alerting that three rounds were fired in the 100 block of Peshine Avenue.
Police say a concerned citizen also reported hearing gunshots in the area. The juvenile is charged with unlawful possession of a handgun.
On Saturday, Mr. Ahmad Ford, 27, and Ms. Taydra Williams, 24, both of Newark, were arrested following a vehicle pursuit of the two suspects inside a white 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee reported carjacked in Newark earlier in the day.
Police say the suspects drove the vehicle during an armed robbery at a gas station located at 242 Elizabeth Avenue, which also occurred Saturday.
According to police, Ford exited the vehicle and demanded the attendant’s cash at gunpoint.
Following the robbery, Newark officials said police observed the vehicle at Meeker Avenue and Frelinghuysen Avenue and attempted a motor vehicle stop.
The driver refused to pull over, and the vehicle was pursued to East Kinney Street and McCarter Highway, where Ford and Williams were both arrested, and a loaded gun was recovered.
Police charged Ford and Williams with unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, robbery and eluding.
In another incident, police said Mr. Zahtece Moore, 27, (A Newark sanitation technician), was arrested yesterday in the 600 block of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard after police conducted a motor vehicle stop and observed a loaded gun inside the vehicle he was driving.
Moore faces charges of unlawful weapon possession, possession of a prohibited weapon (extended magazine), and certain persons prohibited from weapon possession.
According to Newark Police officials, Mr. Lamarr Burwell, 26, Mr. Fuquan S. Floyd, 28, and Mr. Tywon C. Johnson, 20, all of Newark were arrested Saturday after police conducted a motor vehicle stop at Georgia King Village.
Officials said officers observed a gun inside the vehicle, and the driver, Burwell, and his two passengers were arrested.
Police also recovered a loaded gun, reported stolen out of Greenville, SC, and 25 decks of suspected CDS heroin.
Burwell faces charges of unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a prohibited weapon (large-capacity magazine and hollow-point ammunition), receiving stolen property, certain persons prohibited from weapon possession and eluding.
Police charged Floyd with unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of prohibited weapons (large-capacity magazine and hollow-point ammunition), receiving stolen property and CDS possession.
Newark officials said Johnson faces charges of unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a prohibited weapon (large-capacity magazine and hollow-point ammunition), and certain persons prohibited from weapon possession.
“In less than a week after announcing our Violence Reduction Initiative, Newark Police have taken the appropriate steps needed to safeguard our neighborhoods,” Director O’Hara said.
“So far this year, police have recovered a record number of illegal weapons from our streets, and we will continue to do so with the assistance of our law enforcement partners and concerned community members,” he added.
These charges are merely accusations. Each suspect is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.