HOBOKEN — Hoboken Police Chief Kenneth Ferrante announced on Friday the arrests of 15 individuals for various narcotics violations in the Hoboken Housing Authority area in Hoboken. All but one of the arrests occurred on May 8, 2015, while the other occurred on May 6, 2015. The arrests took place after a two-month investigation that was performed by a collaborative effort between the Hoboken Police Narcotics Unit and the Hudson County Prosecutors Office Narcotics Task Force. The arrests followed multiple complaints by residents, stating that West Side Plaza, the strip mall with several restaurants and stores, had been overrun by those who were allegedly dealing drugs in front of those stores. The investigation immediately showed an alleged open air drug market had formed nearby on Jackson Street . The investigation also spread to several other areas around the Hoboken Housing Authority and the City of Hoboken.
“I want to thank Chief Ferrante, the Hoboken Police Department, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, the Hudson County Sheriffs Office, NJ Transit Police, and agents from the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) for working together as a team on this important investigation to ensure that every Hoboken resident feels safe in their neighborhood,” said Mayor Dawn Zimmer. “This investigation began in response to community concerns, and I thank all the residents who raised their voices about public safety. I am proud that under the leadership of Chief Ferrante and the Hoboken Police Department, we are working proactively and collaboratively with the community and other law enforcement agencies to keep our community safe.”
Chief Kenneth Ferrante was proud of the results of this investigation and the work done by many.
“I was disturbed to hear the accounts of residents explaining how West Side Plaza was no longer safe for children, seniors, and the rest of the good people of the Hoboken Housing Authority,” said Chief Ferrante. “It was also tough to be patient while the investigation took all of its necessary steps as I pleaded with residents and store owners who were growing frustrated that we were working on it without being able to tell them what we were doing. Tonight, West Side Plaza is much safer as many who were making that area unsafe have been put behind bars. Processing continues at the time of this release and the bails range from $50,000 to $150,000. I thank the Hoboken Narcotics Unit under the command of Capt. Charles Campbell and Sgt. Edwin Pantoja, the Hudson County Prosecutors Office Task Force and the several other agencies that assisted our Hoboken Police Detectives and Uniformed Officers today. In my first six months as Chief, I have had a great experience collaborating with Hudson County Prosecutor Gaetano Gregory on many issues that help the City of Hoboken and its residents and visitors.”
“During this potentially dangerous operation, the professionalism shown by all the officers and the near perfect execution of the operation netted these 14 arrests with neither defendants nor any officers sustaining any injuries,” added Ferrante.
The first arrest which was part of the operation, was executed on Wednesday, May 6, 2015 at approximately 2 p.m., when police arrested Orlando Martinez near his residence at 917 Clinton St., A search warrant uncovered that Martinez allegedly possessed approximately five ounces of Marijuana, along with Crack Cocaine, Heroin and Steroids, and over $30,000 in cash. Martinez was arrested on 15 drug charges.
The following is a list of the individuals who were arrested on May 8, 2015:
1) Kishaun Gilyard, Age 2 0, Hoboken
Multiple Counts of Distribution of CDS (CDS = controlled dangerous substance)
Bail: $50,000 cash
2) Jarell D. Lee, Age 23, Hoboken
Multiple Counts of Distribution of CDS
Bail: $100,000 cash
3) Dyshawn G. Ladson , Jersey City
Distribution of CDS
Bail: $100,000 cash
4) John P. Ramos, Age 42 , Jersey City
Multiple Counts of Distribution of CDS
Bail: $125,000 Cash
5) James Fields, Age 27 , Jersey City
Distribution of CDS (Note: Police said that Fields has been arrested several times in 2015 for alleged assaults on store owners at West Side Plaza) Bail: $125,000 cash
6) Julio Fermaint, Age 22 , Hoboken
Multiple Counts of Distribution of CDS
Bail: $75,000 cash
7) Stacey Johnson, Age 44 , Hoboken
Distribution of CDS
$100,000 Cash
8) Julian Braxton, Hoboken
Possession of CDS
9) George Pickett , Hoboken
Failure to Appear Warrant
10) Larry Ladson , Jersey City
Motor Vehicle Warrant and Possession of CDS
11) Curtis Jefferies , Hoboken
Possession of CDS
12) Ray Latimer Jr, , Hoboken
Possession of CDS
13) Armando Roman , Hoboken
Defiant Trespassing
Released on Summons
14) Lavada Evans , Hoboken
Defiant Trespassing
Released on Summons
They are presumed innocent on all charges until proven guilty in a court of law.
Hoboken police make slew of arrests in alleged drug operation at downtown strip mall
