Reputed Gang Member Arrested For Alleged Drug Dealing In Essex County: Police

Authorities reported that a reputed Bloods street gang member was arraigned for multiple drug charges on Tuesday following his arrest on Saturday.

According to the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, sheriff’s detectives and Irvington police officers – responding to “numerous neighborhood complaints of open-air drug trafficking near the intersection of North 9th Street and 4th Avenue in Newark’s North Ward” - conducted a plainclothes surveillance operation in the area on Saturday afternoon.

Police allegedly observed Vernon Robinson, 30, of East Orange, “loitering” in front of 218 North 9th Street. Robinson allegedly began conversing with a male passerby, and was seen “opening a nearby garbage can and retrieving items from a black plastic bag,” authorities stated.

At that time, police allegedly observed the pair exchange items for cash.

When the male suspect left the location, officers moved in to investigate, finding 180 heroin-filled glassine envelopes stamped ‘SPRINT’ in green ink and 111 clear glass vials containing crack-cocaine in the plastic bag.

Robinson – who was allegedly unemployed at the time – was found to be in possession of more than $1,300, police stated.

Authorities charged Robinson with possession of a controlled dangerous substance and possession of CDS with intent to distribute.

He was ordered held at the Essex County jail in lieu of $150,000 cash bond only.