Seven Men Arrested in Four Separate Incidents

Citizen tips led to the arrest of seven men and the recovery of a medley of guns and drugs by Newark police over the last five days, authorities said.

The spree of arrests began last Wednesday, Jan. 25, when police received a call about a person with a weapon in the Vailsburg section, according to police. Two 16-year-olds, both of Newark, were arrested after a variety of weapons were discovered at an abandoned home at 33 Isabella Ave. A .44 caliber revolver with a 10-inch barrel was found underneath the porch, while three handguns, two 9mm and a .45 caliber revolver, and more than $4,000 worth of heroin were discovered inside the home. The two juveniles, whose names were not released, were detained and later released with no charges.

Later that day, police arrested five men with lengthy criminal records and recovered an AR-15 assault rifle, 38 rounds of ammunition and about $3,000 worth of heroin after receiving anonymous complaints of drug trafficking in the area of 69 Van Ness Pl.

Among those arrested were Rahman Rogers, 35, of Newark, Rashon Spencer, 31, of East Orange, Jayson Greene, 26, of Newark, and Craig Trotman, 45, of Queens, NY. Police also arrested Jarell Smith, 20, of Newark, who was apprehended after attempting to flush a large amount of heroin down the toilet of an upstairs bathroom. The five men arrested have more than a dozen felony convictions and 48 arrests for charges including, but not limited to, robbery, sexual assault, weapons and narcotics, between them, police said.

Edwin Ayala, 36, of Newark, was arrested with a loaded 12 gauge shotgun concealed in his pants and ammunition last Thursday, Jan. 26 after sending police on a brief foot pursuit in the area of 23 Johnson Ave. Ayala, who has six prior arrests, was taken into custody without further incident and charged accordingly, police said.

Terrance Wiley, 19, of Newark was arrested at the Clinton Avenue firehouse Sunday night with a loaded .40 caliber firearm and a small amount of marijuana. Wiley, who was captured after a foot pursuit and struggle with officers, was seen discarding a small amount of cocaine as he fled from police. One unidentified suspect escaped arrest, McClendon said. Wiley's arrest stems from an anonymous tip relating to narcotics activity in the area of 393 Irvine Turner Blvd. Wiley, who has four prior arrests, was charged with numerous weapons and narcotics offenses.

– Staff reports