The Hoboken Police Department’s Street Crimes Unit broke up a heroin deal at a housing authority building last night, authorities said.Â
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Nathaniel Peterson, 51, of Jersey City, was charged with distribution of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS) heroin, distribution of CDS within 500 feet of public housing, distribution of CDS within 1,000 feet of a school, possession with intent to distribute CDS, Possession with intent to distribute CDS 500 feet of public housing, possession with intent to distribute CDS within 1,000 feet of a school and defiant trespass, according to Police Det. Sgt. Joseph Leonard.
Additionally, Albert Ayala, 29, of Guttenberg was charged with possession of CDS, use/under the influence of CDS, and possession of paraphernalia, police said.
At approximately 3:10 p.m. yesterday, members of the Street Crimes Unit were conducting surveillance of the West Side Plaza, 301 Jackson Street area.
Sgt. William Collins, Det. Paul Quinn, along with Police Officer Fabian Quinones. saw Ayala approach Peterson and the two began talking. Both men then proceeded up 3rd Street and engaged in a hand to hand transaction where money was exchanged for a small item, officials said.
They then walked away in separate directions. Through their training and experience officers believed a drug transaction had just occurred and stopped Ayala at 302 Monroe St. where he was seen snorting suspected heroin from a wax fold with a small cut straw, police said.
Ayala was immediately arrested and brought to police headquarters for processing.
Meanwhile, Collins and Quinones located Peterson outside of 320 Jackson St. where he was stopped and placed under arrest.
The search that led to his arrest uncovered 18 wax folds containing suspected heroin and $69 which was seized as proceeds from unlawful narcotic sales and placed into evidence, authorities said.
Both men were processed and remanded to the Hudson County Rehabilitation Facility.
