Suspected Bloods Gang Member Arraigned on Weapons, Drug Charges

A suspected Bloods gang member was arraigned Tuesday after fleeing Essex County Sheriff’s Officers and running through Newark streets late Friday afternoon before being caught and arrested, officials said.

Daquan Cuttino, 19, was arraigned Tuesday on weapons and drugs charges after sheriff’s officer’s arrested him on Springfield Avenue in Newark.

Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura said Cuttino tried to dispose of a .357 Taurus handgun during the chase, but officers recovered the gun, which was reported stolen from Hinton, W. Va.

In addition, officers found two Xanax tablets and two bags of marijuana in his possession during his arrest.

He was charged with the unlawful possession of a weapon, receiving stolen property and possession of hollow point bullets. In addition, he was charged with two counts each of possession of a controlled dangerous substance and resisting arrest.

Officials said the incident began Friday when sheriff’s officers patrolling near the intersection of Kent and Brenner streets stopped a Lincoln LS with illegally tinted windows.

After the car was stopped, Fontoura said, the rear passenger door opened and a man, later identified as Cuttino, fled.

When the chase reached Springfield Avenue, officers caught up with Cuttino and tackled him. Cuttino resisted arrest, officers reported, before they were able to handcuff him.

Cuttino remains in the Essex County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail imposed by Judge Marilyn Williams.