Cops Tackle, Pepper Spray Alleged Teen Drug Offender In Newark

NEWARK, NJ — Essex County sheriff’s officers apprehended an alleged teen drug offender on Sunday morning in Newark, wrestling the 18-year-old to the ground after he tried to escape arrest and pepper spraying him into submission, authorities say.

According to the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, uniformed officers from the department’s Patrol Division were conducting quality of life operations on Clinton Avenue on Sunday when their marked cruiser observed three males who had congregated at the South 18th Street intersection.

Upon spotting the officers, all three men ran from the scene in different directions, police stated.

“As one of the suspects ran, he held his right hand in his waistband which is consistent with suspects seeking to hold onto narcotics or guns,” Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura stated.

The suspect, later identified as Shane Rodriguez, 18, of Newark, ran into a nearby backyard and attempted to scale a fence to elude the sheriff’s officers, authorities said.

Officers caught up to Rodriguez and quickly tackled him to the ground, police said.

“As the suspect refused to release his hand from whatever he was holding in his waistband, oleo resin capsicum (pepper spray) was utilized on him for officer safety,” Fontoura stated.

A search of Rodriguez’s waistband yielded a fully loaded and defaced 9mm Hi-Point handgun and 15 vials of crack-cocaine, police stated.

Authorities charged Rodriguez with the unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes, possession of a defaced weapon, possession of a weapon while committing a narcotics crime, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of CDS with intent to distribute, possession of CDS with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of Blessed Sacrament School, possession of CDS with intent to distribute within 500 feet of public housing and resisting arrest.

Photo: Google Maps