Three arrested in drug bust
Philip Gonzalez, 22, James C. Mitchell, 33, and Kerelos S. Nakhla, 20, all of Bayonne, were arrested for allegedly making a drug deal at the public housing facility at 15 Lexington Ave. in Bayonne on July 18.
Officers on patrol saw a black Lincoln town car driven by Nakhla pull into the parking lot of the Lord Avenue public housing building. Gonzalez allegedly met the vehicle and directed the driver to the lot at 15 Lexington Ave., where they allegedly made some kind of exchange. Police followed the Lincoln to the Exxon Mobil gas station near 21st Street and Avenue E, where they arrested Nakhla, who had allegedly just purchased marijuana from Gonzalez.
The police then returned and arrested Gonzalez and Mitchell.
Gonzalez was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, intent to distribute, and intent to distribute within public housing. He was also allegedly in possession of a public housing pass key, which police officers said he was not entitled to own, and was charged with unlawful possession of state property.
Mitchell was charged with possession of a CDE, conspiracy to sell a CDS, and possession of narcotic paraphernalia.
Gonzalez and Mitchell were sent to the Hudson County Correctional Facility in Kearny. Nakhla, who was charged with possession of marijuana, was released on a summons.
This was the second time in a week that Gonzalez was arrested in the area of Lord Avenue.
On July 16, police arrested him for allegedly sitting on a bench in front of 15 Lord Ave. after being warned that he had no business hanging around the housing project.
The police have been cracking down on trespassing.
Since the beginning of the year, Bayonne police have been enforcing trespassing laws as a means of reducing more serious crimes throughout the city. Since April, the police have arrested more than a dozen people, who after being warned continued to loiter in areas such as public housing.
A spokesperson for the police department said enforcing this law will keep down more serious criminal behavior that often is associated with people who are hanging out in these areas.
Similar arrests were made on July 7, when officers – part of the Community Oriented Policing Program – recognized two men at nearby 30 Lord Ave., whom they recognized from previous encounters. Jeury Santos, 21, and Guido Nunez, 20, both of Bayonne, were charged with defiant trespass after being warned not to hang around the housing projects.
Frederick Gonzalez, 21, of Bayonne, was also charged with defiant trespass on July 17 for allegedly hanging around the projects at 30 Lord Ave. after being warned not to.
Arson ruled in ball field fire
Someone apparently set fire to a roll of toilet paper in the women’s bathroom at the Little League Pony Field in Dennis Collins Park on July 20.
Police responded to the site at 3:42 p.m. on the report of smoke billowing out of the toilet area, and found the roll of toilet paper on the floor, toilet paper stuffed into the air vents, and toilet paper strewn around the interior of the restroom.
There was only minor damage to the floor, but the matter is being investigated, a police spokesperson said.
Burglar suspect apprehended
Fabian A. Oliveres, 21, of West New York, was arrested near 25th Street and Avenue F on July 17 after a police patrol car recognized his description as a possible burglary suspect.
An 81-year-old woman from East 25th Street told police that she had scared off someone who fit Oliveres’s description after he allegedly attempted to gain entry into her apartment. The victim later identified Oliveres as the person she saw. He was charged with burglary and sent to the Hudson County Correctional Facility in Kearny.
Theft from purse alleged
Mufstaf Y. Brash, 25, of Bayonne, was charged with theft on July 14 after he allegedly took a wallet and an iPod out of the purse of a waitress at a Bergen Point bakery.
A police spokesperson said Brash ordered coffee and then allegedly went through the waitress’s purse while she made his coffee.
Two patrons pursued Brash out of the store, but the police arrested him a few blocks away on Broadway based on a description given to them. A police spokesperson said Brash no longer had the wallet, but was allegedly in possession of the $134 in cash it contained and the iPod.
He also had an outstanding warrant for unpaid fines to Jersey City Municipal Court, and he was sent to the Hudson County Correctional Facility in Kearny.
Amany Z. Kakim, 24, of Bayonne, was charged with allegedly taking $347.89 in groceries from Stop & Shop on July 16.
Jarred Williams, who also goes by the name Tyrone Dickerson, 43, of Jersey City, was charged with allegedly taking $25.17 worth of deodorant sticks from ShopRite on July 19.
Ervin V. Morris, 44, of Jersey City, was charged with allegedly taking $76.90 worth of oral and eye products from the North Street Rite Aid on July 15.