Ex-N.J. Corrections Officer Charged With Police Impersonation In Newark

NEWARK, NJ — Essex County police arrested a former New Jersey state corrections officer after they found him in possession of a gun during a “heated” argument in Newark last week, authorities say.

According to an Essex County sheriff news release, officers were conducting quality of life operations in the vicinity of West Side Park on Friday evening when a 34-year-old East Orange female flagged them down at 357 Avon Avenue.

The officers found the woman in the middle of a “heated verbal argument” with Dennis Lewis Jr., 38, of Newark, about the possession of the keys to a 2001 Chevy Tahoe parked nearby, police said.

Sheriff’s officers quickly stopped the dispute and the woman and Lewis separated, authorities said.

But at that point, one of the officers allegedly saw Lewis walk over to the Tahoe, remove a silver handgun from his waistband and place it on the vehicle’s rear seat, authorities said.

Ordering Lewis to halt, the officers investigated further and found a .40 caliber, Smith & Wesson handgun loaded with hollow point bullets, authorities said.

During questioning, Lewis – who was fired from the New Jersey Department of Corrections in 2012 for allegedly falsifying departmental reports - claimed to be “on the job,” police stated.

Lewis then displayed a state corrections identification card and a state corrections badge, both of which were later found to been altered and unauthorized, police said.

Police also found Lewis in possession of a handcuff key, authorities said.

Authorities charged Lewis with the unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of hollow point bullets and impersonating a law enforcement officer.

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