A joint operation between the Hoboken Police Department and the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office netted the arrests of 15 individuals this week for various narcotics violations in one of the Housing Authority areas of the Mile Square City.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
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, Hoboken Police Chief Kenneth Ferrante said.
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, officials said.
The investigation immediately showed an open air drug market had formed at 301 Jackson Street. The investigation also spread to several other areas around the Hoboken Housing Authority and the City of Hoboken, authorities said.
“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,” Ferrante said in statement.
“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.”
Ferrante also thanked the Hoboken Narcotics Unit and the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Task force for their efforts on the case.
The first arrest which was part of the operation, was executed on Wednesday at approximately 2 p.m., when police arrested Orlando Martinez near his residence at 917 Clinton Street, officials said.
A search warrant uncovered that Martinez possessed approximately five ounces of marijuana, along with crack cocaine, heroin, steroids, and over $30,000 in cash. Martinez was arrested on 15 drug charges, authorities said.
Here is the full list of the individuals arrested in connection to the drug operation yesterday:
1) Kishaun Gilyard, Age 20
310 Jackson Street, Hoboken
Multiple Counts of Distribution of CDSBail: $50,000 cash
2) Jarell D. Lee, Age 23
310 Jackson Street, Hoboken
Multiple Counts of Distribution of CDSBail: $100,000 cash
3) Dyshawn G. Ladson
70 Bowers Street, Jersey City Distribution of CDS
Bail: $100,000 cash4) John P. Ramos, Age 42
153 Bowers Street, Jersey City Multiple Counts of Distribution of CDS Bail: $125,000 Cash5) James Fields, Age 27
97 Van Wagenen Avenue, Jersey City
Distribution of CDS (Note: Fields has been arrested several times in 2015 for assaults on store owners of West Side Plaza) Bail: $125,000 cash6) Julio Fermaint, Age 22
410 Marshall Drive, Hoboken, Multiple Counts of Distribution of CDS Bail: $75,000 cash7) Stacey Johnson, Age 44 311 13th Street, Hoboken Distribution of CDS $100,000 Cash
8) Julian Braxton, Hoboken Possession of CDS
9) George Pickett
Hoboken
Failure to Appear WarrantTelephone: (201) 420-2002 Facsimile: (201) 714-9415
10) Larry Ladson
Jersey City
Motor Vehicle Warrant and Possession of CDS11) Curtis Jefferies Hoboken
Possession of CDS
12) Ray Latimer Jr, Hoboken Possession of CDS
13) Armando Roman
400 Marshall Drive, Hoboken Defiant Trespassing Released on Summons14) Lavada Evans
1112 Jefferson Street, Hoboken Defiant Trespassing
Released on Summons
