Newark New Jersey police arrested a local man accused of attacking undercover police officers during a drug bust.
According to law enforcement, a couple of detectives with the Essex County Sheriff’s Office were on patrol near Broadway and Oriental Place in Newark NJ. Police were in the area because of several recent complaints about illegal drug activity in the neighborhood.
The sheriff’s officers reportedly observed the suspect in the process of selling heroin to a woman. Police later described the suspect’s drug dealing setup as a “mobile drug bazaar” because he was allegedly distributing drugs out of his car, a 2003 Acura TL.
As the police officers moved toward the suspect, he allegedly became enraged and started to punch, elbow, and kick the detectives. He also allegedly spit at the officers.
Police were eventually able to subdue the suspect and arrest him without further incident.
A subsequent search of the suspect and his car allegedly turned up 164 envelopes of heroin, 28 vials of crack cocaine, and 26 Xanax tablets.
The suspect has been charged with multiple drug crimes, including distribution of heroin, distribution of cocaine, and prescription drug distribution.
He also faces charges for aggravated assault on a police officer.
The woman allegedly caught trying to buy drugs was also arrested and charged with possession of heroin. She is said to be from Belleville, NJ.
After being arrested and processed, the main suspect was taken to the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark, New Jersey. He was being held at the jail in lieu of a $150K cash bond. Meanwhile, the female suspect was also remanded to the Essex County Jail.
For further information about this case, view the NJ.com article, “‘Mobile Drug Bazaar’ Dealer Punched, Spit on Cops during Arrest, Authorities Say.”
