More Gun Arrests In Newark; Video Shows Man Apprehended In Store

NEWARK, NJ — A wave of gun-related arrests continue in Newark, with one of the latest taking place inside a local store, authorities say.

According to the Newark Department of Public Safety, police arrested Jose Soto Vargas, 39, of Newark, after he allegedly fired a weapon in front of a local business on Monday.

Authorities released the following statement about the incident:

“At approximately 10:45 a.m., Soto Vargas engaged in a physical altercation with a man in front of a business at 102 Market Street. During the fight, Soto Vargas attempted to remove an object from his pocket and a shot was fired. No injuries have been reported. The suspect was taken into custody without incident, and a loaded and defaced handgun was recovered.”

Soto Vargas was charged with aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

Police released body camera footage of the arrest, which shows officers approach Soto Vargas as he exits a local store (watch the video below).

“I ‘aint got no gun,” he says, just before the officers handcuff him.

Over the weekend, Newark police arrested seven other suspects on charges of weapon possession, part of an ongoing Violence Reduction Initiative aimed at removing firearms and apprehending gun possession suspects.

It brought the total number of firearms recovered so far this year to 205, representing a 45 percent increase over the same period last year, according to Newark Public Safety Director Brian O’Hara.

“Our officers are working incredibly hard to achieve these results, even though we’re working with 10 percent fewer officers than we had last year,” O’Hara said.

According to Newark police, other recent arrests have included:

• Terry J. Rice, 25, of East Orange, was arrested Sunday at 15th Avenue and South 18th Street following a motor vehicle stop. Rice was observed with a loaded handgun. He faces charges of unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of prohibited weapons (large capacity magazine).
• Tyrese Naraine, 21, of Newark, was also arrested Sunday on the 200-block of Irvine Turner Boulevard following a motor vehicle stop. Police observed a handgun, which was loaded, in the vehicle’s door panel. Naraine is charged with unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of prohibited weapons (large capacity magazine and hollow point ammunition).
• A 17-year-old male was taken into custody Sunday following a motor vehicle stop in the area of 16th Avenue and South 20th Street. Police recovered a loaded ghost gun from the juvenile, who faces charges of unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of prohibited weapons (large capacity magazine and machine gun capacity).
• On Saturday, police arrested Quasin S. Lee, 21, of Newark, following a ShotSpotter notification in the area of Brookdale Avenue near Arbinger Place. After Lee arrived at St. Barnabas Hospital in Livingston for treatment of a gunshot wound, Major Crimes detectives identified him as a suspect in the shooting and he was arrested. Lee faces a charge of unlawful possession of a weapon.
• Davon West, 18, of Newark, was also arrested on Saturday after he was observed with a handgun in the area of 7th Avenue West and North 14th Street. West ran from police and tossed the handgun on the 400-block of 7th Avenue. He was located hiding in a basement stairwell in East Orange, where he was arrested without incident. The loaded weapon was recovered. West faces charges of unlawful possession of a weapon, resisting arrest and obstruction of the administration of the law.
• On Friday, police arrested Qualee Jones, 19, of Newark after he was observed with a handgun on the 200-block of Irvine Turner Boulevard. Upon becoming aware of police presence, Jones fled and tossed the handgun. He was apprehended and the loaded weapon was recovered. He is charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, resisting arrest and obstruction of the administration of the law.
• Haywood Covington, 29, of Irvington, was also arrested on Friday after he was observed with a handgun on the 100-block of Alexander Street. Upon becoming aware of police presence, Covington ran, tossing the handgun, which was recovered and found loaded. Police also recovered 81 plastic jugs containing suspected CDS cocaine and one glassine envelope containing suspected CDS heroin in Covington’s possession. He faces charges of unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of prohibited weapons (hollow point ammunition), certain persons prohibited from weapon possession, CDS possession, CDS distribution and distribution of CDS within 1,000 feet of a school.

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