Officer Shoots Charging Dog During Raid In Essex County: Police

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Police carried out a drug raid in Newark last week, arresting two men and seizing $9,000 in narcotics, authorities said. An officer shot a pitbull when its owner commanded it to attack, authorities said.

According to the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, the operation took place at 25 Chelsea Avenue on the evening of Dec. 26 as part of an ongoing investigation into drug trafficking in the city’s West Ward.

After arriving at the residence, police found their target, Shareem Williams, 26 of Newark, who had been accused of taking part in “illegal narcotics activity” in the area, authorities said.

As they approached, Williams allegedly tried to hide 34 grams of marijuana in his jacket pocket. Officers searched Williams for weapons and arrested him, police said.

While officers were placing Shareem Williams under arrest, another person, later identified as Shawn Williams, 39 of Newark, was seen watching the encounter from the front steps of the home, holding a pitbull on a leash.

The officers told Williams to secure the dog, remain still and show both of his hands. But instead, he turned away and tried to lock himself inside the home, police said.

Police picked the lock and followed Williams into the home, again demanding that he secure his dog, stay still and show his hands. He refused to comply, authorities said.

Williams shouted an expletive, then told the pitbull to “Get em!” He let the dog off its leash and it charged at the officers, police said.

Fearing it was going to attack, one of the officers discharged their firearm. After being hit, the pitbull ran away. It was later taken to a local animal hospital and treated for its injuries, police said.

The officer who shot the dog was a Newark police officer who serves on the Essex County Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Narcotics tactical response team, authorities said.

After apprehending and arresting Shawn Williams, police searched the home, finding marijuana, heroin, crack-cocaine and unspecified “painkillers” with a street value of $9,000. The amount of each drug recovered wasn’t immediately available.

Police also found “narcotics producing paraphernalia and illegal narcotic proceeds,” authorities said.

Police charged Shareem Williams with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and distribution on or around school property and possession of drug paraphernalia and distribution on or around public property. It was later found that he had an open warrant out of Newark Municipal Court, authorities said.

Police charged Shawn Williams with resisting arrest, tampering with evidence, possession of a weapon (a K-9), aggravated assault with a deadly weapon (a K-9) and possession of a controlled dangerous substance.

Shareem Williams was booked and transported to the Essex County Correctional Facility.

Shawn Williams was taken to Rutgers Medical Center for evaluation. Upon his release, Shawn Williams will be booked and transported to the Essex County Correctional Facility for housing, police said.

Keep updated with local public safety alerts at the Patch Newark Facebook page. Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com