Newark Firefighter Arrested on Drug Charges

An off-duty Newark firefighter was arrested on drug charges, after an investigation revealed he was allegedly distributing marijuana in the city's Ironbound section, officials said Friday.

Paul Andrade, 33, of Newark, was arrested Monday and charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession with intent to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute within 500 feet of public property, according to a release Friday from the Essex County Prosecutor's Office. 

Detectives from the prosecutor's Viper Unit found Andrade, who was off-duty at the time, to be in possession of a quantity of marijuana. A search of Andrade's home and his 2010 Jaguar also yielded marijuana, according to the release. 

The investigation began after detectives received a tip that Andrade was distributing marijuana in the Ironbound, authorities said. 

Andrade was released on his own recognizance. The charges against him are expected to be referred to a grand jury in the near future.