Essex County NJ police recently arrested two men accused of dealing crack cocaine at an abandoned home located in Newark’s West Ward.
According to law enforcement, the two suspects were caught dealing cocaine in the area of Brookdale Avenue and Abinger Place in Newark, New Jersey.
The Essex County Sheriff’s Office received several calls about individuals selling drugs in Newark. When members of the Essex County Narcotics Bureau subsequently patrolled the area, they reportedly saw the two suspects lingering.
At some point, a Mazda Millennium reportedly pulled up. The suspects then allegedly began to speak with the driver for an extended period of time.
The two suspects, a 37-year-old man and a 30-year-old man, eventually walked away and headed toward a vacant house located at 88 Brookdale Avenue. According to police, the suspects retrieved cocaine out of a small plastic bag and then walked back to the vehicle.
The narcotics officers allegedly saw the suspects exchange the cocaine for an undisclosed amount of cash.
When the vehicle drove away, police officers followed. Police eventually stopped the vehicle and spoke with the driver, who allegedly handed over a bag of crack cocaine.
Police went back to the abandoned house and apprehended the two suspects.
A subsequent search of the premises reportedly turned up 34 vials of crack cocaine inside a plastic bag. Police also reportedly discovered a loaded .40-caliber Taurus Millennium semi-automatic handgun.
The two suspects accused of dealing drugs have been charged with distribution of cocaine and unlawful possession of a weapon.
If the suspects are convicted of cocaine distribution, they face significant penalties. As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5, possession with intent to distribute 5 ounces or more of cocaine is a first degree felony. A conviction on first degree cocaine distribution charges could lead to a sentence of 10-20 years in New Jersey State Prison.
Both suspects were taken to the Essex County Jail in Newark, where they were each being held in lieu of separate $100,000 bail amounts.
Meanwhile, the driver of the Mazda received a summons for cocaine possession. He was later released from police custody with a pending court date.
For additional information about this case, view NJ.com article entitled “Newark Men Caught Dealing Crack Out of Abandoned City Home, Sheriff Says.”
