East Orange Cops Make Drug Raid At Senior Citizen Home

EAST ORANGE, NJ — East Orange’s re-established Violent Crime Task Force arrested three local men last week in connection with an alleged “drug-dealing operation” being conducted out of a senior citizen residential building in the city, police officials said.

According to East Orange officials, police executed two search warrants on Sept. 20 — one at 220 Prospect Street and one on a seized vehicle. Inside the seized vehicle, police discovered 217 grams of marijuana, 140 vials of cocaine and $1,200 in cash.

Robert Smith, 76, of East Orange, was arrested and charged with distribution of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS), possession of CDS and possession of CDS with intent to distribute near school property.

Stebbin Anderson, 56, of East Orange, and Vincent Moore, 46, of East Orange, were each arrested and charged with possession of CDS, police said.

East Orange Police Chief Phyllis Bindi commended the involved officers of the task force for their “excellent work” during the investigation.

City officials said that the Violent Crimes Task Force was re-established in August under the leadership of Public Safety Liaison José Cordero after being disbanded in April 2016. The goal of the unit is to “aggressively target hot spots” and to “address issues of community concern.”

It’s not immediately clear what impact the task force has had on the city. But according to police officials, compared to this time last year, overall crime in the city is down 19 percent and violent crime is down 25.4 percent.

Mayor Ted Green said that he experienced firsthand the “effectiveness of the increased community policing effort” when he did a recent ride-along with officers.

“I have a whole new appreciation for the hard work and dedication of our police officers,” Green said after his time with the EOPD. “Time moves quickly and one split second or one wrong decision can change the entire course of how an incident ends.”

Individuals with information relevant to any crime can to contact the East Orange Police Department’s 24/7 Confidential Tips Line at (973) 266-5041.

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