Drug talk at the drugstore leads to drug bust
Three Hoboken residents were charged with possession of controlled dangerous substances with intent to distribute after allegedly being overheard talking about drug dealing while inside a CVS drugstore, according to a report provided by the Hoboken Police Department.
At around 9:20 p.m. on Friday, April 24, said police, a passerby heard Edwin Allende, 37, Alonzo Jeffries, 44, and Elizabeth Gonzalez, 40, allegedly discuss the sale of drugs inside the store at 59 Washington St., then saw them depart and enter a green Mustang parked nearby.
After the witness called Hoboken police, Anti-Vice Unit detectives were dispatched to the scene and engaged the occupants of the vehicle, which was allegedly parked illegally, according to the report.
While speaking with Allende, who was in the driver’s seat, police said, the detectives noticed a cup in the rear of the vehicle containing a thick brown liquid. According to police, it was determined later to be an alcoholic beverage, for which a summons was issued.
During the conversation, Jeffries allegedly reached repeatedly toward a bag near his feet, according to the report. Upon subsequent search of the vehicle, police said, the bag was found to contain children’s medicine.
According to the report, the detectives allegedly noted a strong odor of cannabis emanating from the Mustang’s center console. A search uncovered separate bags containing alleged cannabis and heroin, which all three parties denied owning, police said.
All three were arrested and charged with possession with intent to distribute and possession with intent to distribute within 500 feet of a park for both the cannabis and the heroin. Jeffries was also charged with simple possession of heroin.
All three were remanded to the Hudson County Correctional Facility in default of bail, police said. Police seized $316 from Allende and $876 from Jeffries as alleged proceeds of narcotics transactions, according to the report.
Mad about you
An argument over a woman in front of a Hoboken public housing project allegedly came to blows on April 24, and a North Bergen man was arrested and charged with aggravated assault, according to a report provided by the Hoboken Police Department. However, the incident could have been much worse — police say Gabriel Johnson, 21, allegedly brandished a box cutter, but did not successfully strike his victim with it before police arrived.
According to the report, at around 3:20 p.m. on the 24th, Hoboken Detectives Joseph DiMartino and Wilfredo Gomez were flagged down and provided with a report of a fight unfolding in the vicinity of 501 Marshall Drive.
Upon arriving at the scene, the detectives observed Johnson and another man, later determined to be the victim, allegedly engaged in an altercation, according to police. As they observed, Johnson allegedly pulled out a box cutter and lunged at his victim, but did not strike him, said police.
DiMartino and Gomez intervened and ordered Johnson to drop his weapon, according to the report, and Johnson complied. According to police, Johnson allegedly said the fight had begun over his ex-girlfriend, who is now dating the victim.
In addition to the assault charge, Johnson was given summons for possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a weapon and was released after processing.
Cleaned out
Detectives were able to track down two Hoboken residents who allegedly burglarized a Washington Street dry cleaning business on the night of Saturday, April 10, according to a report provided by the Hoboken Police Department.
At around 4:20 a.m. on April 11, Sgt. Donald Russo and Special Police Officer James Dillon responded to a report of a heavily damaged front door on a business on the 900 block of Washington Street, police said.
According to the report, upon arriving and entering the shop, Russo and Dillon found the cash register drawer missing. Officer Paul Quinn and Detective Joseph DiMartino arrived in support and subsequently located the drawer on the sidewalk nearby after a thorough search.
Through an investigation led by Hoboken Detective Jonathan Mecka, the details of which were not disclosed, Jason Solivan, 34, and Sean Lackie, 38, were determined to be the alleged perpetrators of the burglary, according to the report.
Police said Lackie was spotted and picked up near the intersection of Hudson and Twelfth streets on Friday, April 17 by Detectives William Collins, Anthony Olivera, and Wilfredo Gomez.
On Monday, April 20, the same detectives visited Solivan’s home and arrested him there, according to police. Both men were charged with burglary, theft, and criminal mischief and remanded to the Hudson County Correctional Facility in default of $15,000 bail.