Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura announced that four suspects were arrested on drug-related charges after surveillance investigations in Newark and Bloomfield.
Sheriff's office detectives discovered 19-year-old Khari Bradley, of Montclair, and 27-year-old Nicholas Lawhorn, of Paterson, in possession of a bag filled with 700 envelopes of heroin. They were both charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance among other charges.
Detectives in the area of Broadway and Delavan Avenue allegedly witnessed Carlos Sanchez, 37, and Chelsea Caracozza, 32, both of Newark, in a cash-for-narcotics exchange. They were subsequently arrested. Sanchez was charged with the unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon and other, drug-related charges. Carcozza was issued a court summons for possession of a controlled dangerous substance and released in her own recognizance.
Authorities later arrested a third suspect, 42-year-old Juan Ruiz of Newark, after police found multiple illegal handguns inside the vehicle he was sitting in was searched.
Ruiz was arrested and was found to have a burglary warrant. He was remanded to the county jail.
Surveillance at the intersection of Fabian Place and Hawthorne Avenue in Newark, led to the arrest of 30-year-old Jerrell Williams, of Newark.
According to officials, Williams was caught during a drug-cash exchange with William Drisdale, 57 of Andover.
Williams was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance and multiple other drug-related charges, authorities said
Drisdale was issued summonses for the possession of a controlled dangerous substance among other charges. He was released in his own recognizance and he will be arraigned at a later date.