Russell Hamlet, 51, is being held at the Essex County Jail on $35,000 bond
Russell Hamlet (Essex County Correctional Facility) NEWARK - A city man was arraigned on drug charges this morning after Essex County Sheriff's officer found 71 vials of crack cocaine in his bedroom, authorities said.
Russell Hamlet, 51, was ordered held at the Essex County Jail on $35,000 bail three days after police serving a search warrant for his basement apartment on Cypress Street found the drugs stashed in a closet, Sheriff Armando Fontoura said in a statement.
The narcotics officers had knocked on the apartment door numerous times without success Friday morning, according to Fontoura, before eventually making a forced entry.
Once inside, they saw Hamlet attempt to run out the home's back door, but was quickly apprehended.
He is charged with drug possession and possession with intent to distribute, and remains in custody as of Monday afternoon.
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