Prosecutor: Raids Recover Four Firearms, Heroin, Cocaine, 1 Pound of Pot

Three people were arrested last week following three separate investigations that seized a large amount of narcotics and several firearms, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office said.

Detectives executed a search warrant on Tuesday at a Branford Street residence where they seized about 2,600 glassine envelopes of suspected heroin, six vials of suspected cocaine and a loaded 38-caliber handgun, the prosecutor's office said.

Packaging materials and other drug paraphernalia were also recovered from the residence, the prosecutor's office said. The heroin had a street value of $2,500, the prosecutor's office said.

Jason Dunell, 26, of Newark, was arrested at the home and charged with possession of heroin and cocaine with intent to distribute, possession with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of school property and possession of a firearm while committing a narcotics offense. Dunell has been lodged in the Essex County Jail in lieu of $150,000 bail.

Detectives on Wednesday arrested Tommy Heredia, of Newark, after he distributed 1 pound of marijuana to an undercover police officer on Halleck Street in Newark, the prosecutor's office said. The marijuana had a street value of about $5,000, the prosecutor's office said.

Heredia was charged with distribution of marijuana and he has been remanded to the Essex County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.

Detectives on Friday executed a search warrant at a 19th Street residence in East Orange where they recovered three firearms, the prosecutor's office said. Authorities seized a loaded assault weapon, a handgun and a sawed-off shotgun, the prosecutor's office said.

A 16-year-old East Orange resident was arrested at the home and charged with weapons offenses. The juvenile has been remanded to the Essex County Youth House.

The charges against Dunell and Heredia will be referred to the Essex County Grand Jury, while the juvenile's case will be heard in Family Court.