Officers assigned to city's
NEWARK -- Authorities say they confiscated thousands of pirated DVDs valued at more than $25,000 after two rookie police officers arrested a man for allegedly peddling the films outside a strip mall in the city.
The new officers were patrolling on foot around Clinton Avenue and 11th Street Saturday afternoon when they spotted Angerlon Kennedy trying to sell the DVDs to area shoppers, according to Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose.
Officers Alonso Vinueza and Bennie Wadley arrested Kennedy, 64, of Newark, without incident, the director said in a statement. Kennedy was charged with possession of pirated videos.
More than 70 sworn in as police officers, firefighters
Police discovered more than 3,000 DVDs, nearly 1,000 CDs and $300, authorities said. The stash included new release films in theaters.
Vinueza and Wadley were on patrol as part of the new Community Deployment Teams, which places newly-minted officers on walking patrols in neighborhoods around the city, Ambrose said. The teams include the 36 officers who graduated from the police academy in March.
An additional 40 officers graduated last week and will also join the foot patrol teams, according to officials.
Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.