Investigators respond to North Ward drug complaints
Essex County Sheriff's officers made drug and weapons arrests in Newark's North Ward (File photo)
Narcotics detectives were working an undercover surveillance operation at Broadway and Grafton Avenue early Thursday night in response to complaints of an "open-air" drug market in the area, according to Sheriff Armando Fontoura.
Investigators saw Tajaree Springer, 24, and Rajohn Blakewood, 25, engage in a suspected drug deal with two people in the area, Fontoura said in a statement. Officers stopped the pair and found Springer had 49 glassine packets of heroin stamped with "IRON MAN 2" while Blakewood was caught with 68 vials of crack cocaine, the sheriff added.
Springer and Blakewood were arrested on a charges, including drug possession, possession with the intent to distribute drugs and drug distribution within 1,000 feet of the Elliott Street School. Authorities said bail for the two Newark residents was set at $50,000.
In another North Ward arrest Thursday night, sheriff's patrol officers stopped a 2003 Audi A4 for having illegally tinted windows at Park Avenue and North 6th Street, according to authorities.
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"When our officers approached the vehicle they immediately detected the pungent odor of burnt marijuana," Fontoura said.
The three 17-year-olds in the car admitted to smoking marijuana earlier, the sheriff said.
Officers noticed the front seat passenger, identified as an East Orange resident, had a large bulge in his waistband and they soon discovered the boy had a .38 caliber Santa Fe Sky revolver loaded with illegal hollow point rounds, Fontoura added. The teen also had 13 bags of crack cocaine and nine Alprazolam tablets.
The gun was reported stolen from Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, in December 2011, according to Fontoura. The passenger was taken to the Essex County Youth Detention Facility on a range of drug and weapon charges ahead of a family court hearing.
The driver, from Newark, was ticketed for having tinted windows and for being an unlicensed driver, authorities said. The driver and another passenger were also ordered to appear in Newark Municipal Court and released to their parents. Authorities did not release the names of the boys because of their ages.
Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.