Newark man charged with dealing pot, was armed with gun, police say

Suspect, 24, tried to discard weapon and drugs, police say

NEWARK -- A 24-year-old man who was armed with a handgun was arrested Tuesday night, a police spokesman, Sgt. Ron Glover, said.

John O'Boyle 

Members of a multi-agency task force, the Newark Violence Reduction Initiative, were traveling on Isabella Avenue around 10:40 p.m. when they saw two men in front of a home, one of whom was holding a bag. When Tahir Duval noticed the officers, he removed a gun from his waistband and tossed it over a fence, then dropped the bag, Glover said.

Duval was arrested after police retrieved the loaded .380 caliber handgun and the bag, which contained baggies of marijuana, Glover also said. He has been charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, certain persons prohibited weapons, possession of  marijuana and possession with intent to distribute.

"I commend the members assigned to Newark Violence Reduction Initiative for the job they perform on a daily basis and for their dedication to keeping Newark safe," said Police Director Eugene Venable.

Members of the city's Gang Unit as well as the State Police and the FBI assisted in the arrest.