An alleged Latin Kings gang member who was arrested a few months ago – causing a near riot in front of the Guttenberg Police Department – was once again taken into custody on Aug. 20 after allegedly failing to appear in court on the charges. The second arrest was bad news for guests in his apartment at the time, as they were arrested and charged with alleged drug possession.
The story began back in April, when police arrested Dennis “D-Money” Oyola, 28, after witnessing him allegedly screaming in the street. They believed he was under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance when they found PCP that was allegedly on his person. After they arrested Oyola, around 12 alleged gang members showed up outside of police headquarters petitioning for his freedom. There, they nearly got into an altercation with another gang.
Eventually, the crowd dispersed.
Then, on Aug. 20, Guttenberg Police showed up at the apartment Oyola was renting at 6911 Bergenline Ave. to serve Oyola with bench warrant for non-appearance.
Police say that he allegedly tried to flee, but was apprehended.
And inside the apartment, police found Samantha Connelly, 28, of Jersey City, along with three Union City residents: Reniel Hernandez, 31, Alan Fox, 48, and Israel Cedeno, 48.
They also said they found drug paraphernalia that included a crack pipe, a copper mesh wire pad, hollowed cigars, clear baggies, and prescription medication. The medication did not belong to anyone in the room, said Investigator Jeffrey Lugo.
Officers asked Oyola if there was any other contraband that they should know about. They said he gave the police his consent for the apartment to be searched.
“There was garbage all over the basement big time.” – Joel Magenheimer
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Charged and arrested
After a K-9 search conducted by Bergen County Police produced no additional discoveries, all five individuals were arrested and brought to headquarters to be processed.
Oyola was charged with possession of a CDS (controlled dangerous substance), distribution of a CDS, distribution within a school zone, possession of prescription drugs, and maintaining a nuisance. His bail was set at $50,000.
The other four individuals were charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. Police also found active warrants for Connelly and Fox.
Lugo said he was happy that no one got hurt in the process, since they had reason to believe the situation could possibly become dangerous.
“[Oyola] was real quiet that night,” said Lugo. “He didn’t say much of anything to us throughout the whole process. He just kind of sat there.”
He said that Oyola’s alleged “gang status” made the situation more serious.
Neighbors get worse news
According to Capt. Joel Magenheimer, the next day, tenants of three apartments at 6911 Bergenline Ave., including the one they had raided, were locked out by their landlord due to their alleged non-payment of rent for six to eight months.
Then on Aug. 28 at 9:30 p.m. several officers responded to a report of a water leak at the same apartment building. The victim said that sewage backed up into his bathtub every time anyone in the building used water.
Another tenant, Olga Miller, said that water leaked into her living room anytime water was used and filed a complaint for $200 of damages to her ceiling, according to police.
“There was garbage all over the basement big time,” said Magenheimer.
Magenheimer said that the police notified the Guttenberg Building Department. Subsequently, the building was deemed uninhabitable. Guttenberg Police transferred most of the residents to the Holiday Inn on Tonnelle Avenue and padlocked the building.
According to Magenheimer, the building owner is Dr. Esmat Zaklama, a pain management specialist from Jersey City, who has previously run for mayor of Jersey City and who had also had the same 10-unit building shut down for unsafe conditions eight years ago. At that time, the Building Department concluded that the first two floors were being occupied illegally, among other problems, and he faced up to $8,000 worth of fines.
Before locking the building Zaklama was notified of the problem and said that he would have the problem resolved in the morning, the report said. Police said he refused to help place his tenants in a hotel, so the town of Guttenberg relocated four families themselves (two families made their own arrangements, while two apartments were vacant).
Later, according to police, Zaklama came to town hall to threaten to sue the town and allegedly asked one of his tenants to “boycott the police” and return to his apartment. Later he agreed to pay for the hotel rooms of relocated residents.
While on location on Aug. 29, police met with Sarabamou Salib, who said he was the building owner’s representative and allegedly stated that he refused to take custody of the building and was only there to allow the “plumbers” into the residence to work.
Soon afterward, Abir Aldrmly arrived at the building and stated that she was the representative for the owner that would supervise the plumber’s work. She was left responsible for the work.
The tenants who had been up to date with their rent were allowed to return after the leak was fixed.
Any fines that the Building Department may issue are pending.
Tricia Tirella may be reached at TriciaT@hudsonreporter.com.