Several Arrested on Drug Charges Thursday

Four people were arraigned Friday following their arrests in separate incidents by Essex County sheriff’s detectives the day before in the city’s South Ward.  During the arrests more than $2,000 in illegal narcotics were confiscated, officials said.

Sheriff Armando Fontoura stated that  arrests were a part of ongoing investigations targeting known drug locations. Arrests were made at 766 S 20th St., 417 S 17th St. and 35 Taylor St. Narcotics detectives conducted surveillance operations and motor vehicle stops leading to the arrest of six people.

Christian Hernandez, 23 of Newark, was observed distributing suspected narcotics out of a clear zip-lock bag to Ulysses Gaines, 66, of Newark at Taylor Street, Fontoura said. At 4:25 p.m. detectives discovered 65 clear glass vials with green tops containing "crack" cocaine, stashed in a nearby bush.  Hernandez and Gaines were arrested, but Gaines was released after being charged with possession.

Also Thursday, Christopher Poole, 20 of Newark, was seen standing on the corner of Springfield Avenue and S. 20th Street. Poole approached a black Honda Accord and after a brief conversation, allegedly was seen taking part in a hand-to-hand transaction with the driver, Sadayah Larkins, 24 of New York.  Detectives arrested the two and found 23 baggies of marijuana in Poole's front pocket, Fontoura said.  Poole was arrested and taken into custody while Larkins was charged with possession and released.

During surveillance at 15th Avenue and 13th Street detectives shortly after 1 p.m. watched as David Brantley, 35 of Newark, approached a Grey Acura TL. Brantley and the driver, Kevin Brown, 55, also of Newark, engaged in what the detectives believed to be another drug transaction. The detectives conducted a motor vehicle stop and recovered 50 glassine envelopes of heroin, stamped "THERAPY" in red ink. Brown and Brantley were taken into custody and held in the Essex County Correctional Facility.

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At Friday’s arraignment, Judge Marilyn Williams ordered Hernandez to be held at the county jail in lieu of $15,000.   The bail on Poole was set at $25,000. Bail for Brown and Brantley was set at $50,000.