Crime & Safety
Newark Police Arrest Two on Weapons Charges
Men have lengthy records of arrests and convictions, police say.
Newark police last week arrested two men with extensive criminal histories on weapons charges, department spokesman Det. Todd McClendon said.
Around 4:30 am Aug. 26, police who were ending a pursuit near 28 Kent St. after the suspects escaped allegedly saw a man approach a vehicle while handling what appeared to be a firearm placed in the waistband of his pants. Police stopped the vehicle and arrested Aaron Rollins, 27, of Newark, after he was found with a loaded .40-caliber firearm, McClendon said. Rollins, who was on parole at the time of his arrest, was charged with several weapons violations, including possession of a defaced firearm.
Two days later, around 4 pm, a police officer reportedly witnessed Jamal Johnson, 26, of East Orange, drop a gun as he pedaled his bike near Sanford Avenue and Marion Place. Johnson picked the gun up and rode to 18 Marion Place, where he was arrested by several officers, McClendon said. Johnson was charged with unlawful possession of the .380-caliber handgun, McClendon said.
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Combined, Johnson and Rollins have been arrested 25 times and have more than 10 convictions for indictable offenses.
"These two arrests exemplify the type of proactive arrests and weapon recoveries that have reduced violent crime and averted tragedies,” Police Director Samuel DeMaio said. “Both of these suspects have lengthy criminal records and have demonstrated a propensity for violent criminal behavior. I commend the officers involved for their brave and swift actions that resulted in these key arrests and weapon recoveries."Find out what's happening in Newarkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
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