Drug Arrests: Belleville and Newark Men Arrested For Allegedly Selling Narcotics In Essex County

Essex County police arrested three men from Belleville and Newark on Tuesday for allegedly dealing narcotics at the intersection of Broadway and Grafton Avenue in Newark.

Two separate arrests were made as part of a plainclothes surveillance operation conducted in the area in response to “numerous neighborhood complaints of drug trafficking at that location,” the Essex County Sheriff’s Office stated.

The first incident took place around noon, when officers allegedly observed Kenyatta Saunders, 35, of Newark, “loitering in the area.”

According to police, Saunders was seen conversing with two suspected buyers. After brief conversations, he allegedly walked over to a green cigarette box that was lying on the ground, retrieved items from the box and exchanged them for cash.

“Believing they had just witnessed street drug sales, our detectives announced their presence and moved in to further investigate while detaining the suspect,” Sheriff Armando Fontoura stated.

Inside the cigarette box, police reportedly found 20 glassine envelopes filled with heroin and stamped “UMD” in red ink.

Police charged Saunders with possession of CDS, possession of CDS with intent to distribute and possession of CDS with intent to distribute within 1000 feet of Broadway Elementary School.

A canvass of the area for the alleged drug buyers proved negative, police stated.

ARREST #2

Police conducted a second surveillance operation at the same location at 6:15 p.m.

Officers allegedly observed two suspects - Davon Simmons, 46, of Belleville, and Shareef Brown, 34, of Newark – loitering at the intersection.

Police allegedly witnessed multiple male passerby approach both men, have a brief conversation and exchange cash for items.

When detectives moved to investigate, they reportedly found Simmons in possession of 25 clear glass vials filled with crack-cocaine and Brown in possession of 16 vials of cocaine in powder form.

Police charged the two men with possession of CDS, possession of CDS with intent to distribute and possession of CDS with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of Broadway Elementary School.

Simmons was also found to be wanted on a Superior Count warrant for willful non-support as well as three open warrants issued by the Newark and Hamilton Township.

During an arraignment on Wednesday, Judge Marilyn Williams set bail on Saunders at $30,000 and on Simmons at $35,000.

Brown was released on his own recognizance following his arrest and will be arraigned at a later date, police stated.