Driver stopped, found to have gun, police say
NEWARK -- Two city residents have been arrested on drugs and weapons charges in separate incidents.
Shortly before midnight Monday, members of the police department's violence reduction initiative -- which includes personnel from the FBI, State Police, the Essex County prosecutor's Office and Sheriff's Department, as well as city Gang and Ceasefire unit members -- were patrolling near S. 19th and Springfield avenues when the saw a motor-vehicle infraction, department spokesman Sgt. Ron Glover said.
After pulling the vehicle over, officers approached and saw the driver remove something from his waistband and stuff it under his seat, Glover said. The driver, 32-year-old Gary Ward, was told to show his hands.
With Ward secured, police pointed a flashlight onto the front seat and found a .380 semi-automatic underneath, Glover said. Ward was charged with weapons offenses and issued summonses for motor-vehicle violations.
Another city man was arrested Sunday night after police received a tip that someone was dealing drugs out of a building near Garside and Kearny streets.
Officers, who had been tipped off on how to procure the drugs, knocked on the window of the abandoned structure, Glover said. When Dominica Carpio, 25, answered and saw the officer's badge, Carpio ran, stopping to grab several items from a nearby dresser, Glover said.
He added that Carpio was quickly caught and a search turned up the items from the dresser Carpio had tossed, including a silver handgun, cocaine and drug paraphernalia. Carpio was charged with multiple violations of the state's weapons and narcotics laws.
"The officers in the field are just as invested in the safety of our citizens as the citizens are in helping the police to abate crime issues. I applaud the continued support from our residents via the anonymous tip line and the work that all the officers do every day here in Newark," said Police Director Eugene Venable.
Police are asking that anyone with information about this or any other crime call the department's 24-hour "Crime Stoppers" anonymous tip line at 877 NWK-TIPS (877 695-8477) or NWK-GUNS (877 695-4867).
Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@PaulMilo2. FindNJ.com on Facebook