The West New York Police Department announced that 19 individuals have been arrested on drug charges after completing phase one of “Operation Summertime Sweep.” Â
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The large-scale drug bust began in May, with the 19th arrest occurring on Halloween night – mostly due to complaints related to quality of life issues – according to Police Director Robert Antolos.
He added that the arrests were made possible due to a combined effort between the West New York Police Department’s Narcotics Squad, Criminal Investigations Division, Tactical Patrol Force and Patrol Team E.
Mayor Felix Roque, also the commissioner in charge of the Department of Public Safety, commended the officers on a job well done and said he was glad he could make good on a campaign promise he made back in 2011.
“This is something we promised (keeping crime down) approximately five years ago and so far, we’ve kept the crime down to about six percent. We’re on the streets, we’re looking for the bad guys and this is proof that our police department is working here in West New York.”
Speaking with Hudson County View, Roque, a pain management specialist by trade, revealed that he always wanted to be a police officer, which only added to the respect he has for his department.
Additionally, Antolos explained that the “drug narcotic nuisance” is “an everyday battle” that will never end, however, phase two of the drug sweep is already in motion and more arrests will be made in the future.
Daniel Maceo, 59, Ridgefield
• Possession of cocaine
• Distribution of cocaine
• Distribution of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school zone
• Distribution of cocaine within 500 feet of public housing
Julio Lascano, 28, Guttenberg
• Possession of crack cocaine
• Distribution of crack cocaine
• Possession of crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school zone
• Distribution of crack cocaine within 500 feet of public housing
• Possession of crack cocaine in a motor vehicle
Aaron Restrepo, 18, West New York
• Possession of marijuana
• Distribution of marijuana
• Distribution of marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school zone
• Distribution of marijuana within 500 feet of public housing
Jose Pola, 20, West New York
• Possession of marijuana
• Distribution of marijuana
• Distribution of marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school zone
• Distribution of marijuana within 500 feet of public housing
James Cruz, 26, West New York
• Possession of marijuana
• Distribution of marijuana
• Distribution of marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school zone
• Distribution of marijuana within 500 feet of public housing
Joudeh Shihadeh, 34, West New York
• Two counts of possession of cocaine
• Two counts of distribution of cocaine
• Two counts of distribution of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school zone
• Two counts of distribution of cocaine within 500 feet of public housing
Jesus Hernandez, 42, North Bergen
• Three counts of possession of heroin
• Three counts of distribution of heroin
• Three counts of distribution of heroin within 1,000 feet of a school zone
• Three counts of distribution of heroin within 500 feet of public housing
Christopher Navarro, 28, West New York
• Possession of marijuana
• Distribution of a marijuana
• Distribution of marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school zone
• Distribution of marijuana within 500 feet of public housing
Jensen Escobar, 18, West New York
• Possession of marijuana
• Distribution of a marijuana
• Distribution of marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school zone
• Distribution of marijuana within 500 feet of public housing
Jorge Hurtado, 58, West New York
• Two counts of possession of cocaine
• Two counts of distribution of cocaine
• Two counts of distribution of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school zone
Angel Masso, 25, Weehawken
• Two counts of possession of crack cocaine
• Two counts of distribution of crack cocaine
• Two counts of distribution of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school zone
• Two counts of distribution of cocaine within 500 feet of public housing
Camillo Pabon, 22, Guttenberg
• Possession of cocaine
• Distribution of cocaine
• Distribution of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school zone
• Distribution of cocaine within 500 feet of public housing
George Barrueco, 20, West New York
• Possession of marijuana
• Distribution of marijuana
• Distribution of marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school zone
• Distribution of marijuana within 500 feet of public housing
Luis Lopez, 23, West New York
• Possession of marijuana
• Distribution of marijuana
• Distribution of marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school zone
Susan Gonzalez, 45, North Bergen
• Two counts of possession of Xanax
• Two counts of distribution of Xanax
• Two counts of distribution of Xanax within 1,000 feet of a school zone
• Two counts of distribution of Xanax within 500 feet of public housing
Raynoldo Ayala, 37, West New York
• Possession of marijuana
• Distribution of marijuana
• Distribution of marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school zone
Bryan Barcia, 19, West New York
• Possession of marijuana
• Distribution of marijuana
• Distribution of marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school zone
• Distribution of marijuana within 500 feet of public housing
Hassan Ahmad, 34, North Bergen
• Two counts of possession of crack cocaine
• Two counts of distribution of crack cocaine
• Two counts of distribution of crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school zone
• Two counts of distribution of crack cocaine within 500 feet of public housing
One juvenile was also arrested during the sweep.
Roque promised to keep other people’s crimes down, but he forgot about keeping his own crimes down. What a phony.
I think this is bull**** how they put people business out there to the public and everyone sees it
Good that their names are out there good for nothing drug dealers…Ashley its all public record they just report it….
Exactly Milton! I don’t know what planet these people are from. They obviously don’t read newspapers or watch the news or they’d know that names of arrestees of any crime are always published. They must be friends or relatives of one or more of the Poison Peddlers to be sympathetic about their names being published. PUT THEM ON BLAST! Drugs are the stench of every urban community across America. I’m happy and I salute the Director of Police, Mr. Antolos and his staff. Unlike the Urban Terrorists Sympathizers, I’m proud of the cops and the job they do. They deserve our support and help. A community that cares more about Quality of Life issues is a better community overall. Keep up the good work Director Antolos and Mayor Roque. Thank you for being proactive and not reactive. I don’t want the town I grew up in to become a safe haven for a bunch of clowns that have no marketable skills in life and choose crime. Screw that! Lock ‘em all up!
The mayor shouldn’t be talking
He should tell everybody how corrupted he is since he wants to talk come on major talk lol n as for the people getting arrested most of them didn’t have **** on them lol its just a snitch around the way
Wow. You know a lot. You must be a relative, friend or good customer of the Poison Peddlers Missy! I don’t care what the Mayor did or does in his private business, as long as he does the business of the town. The good thing is that he put good people in the right and important places like Director Antolos whom thankfully doesn’t sit on his hands letting the town go to the crapper!
Good Job, Mayor Roque and Police Director Bob Antolos.
Missy, from reading your comments came to the following conclusion.
1) Your a one of the Drug dealers that the PD is ruining your business so all you can do is bash the Town.
2) You or a family member who is close, has been arrested in the past on similar charges.
3). You wanted a job or a low income apartment and didn’t get it.
The way I see it you don’t like the Town MOVE OUT!!!! I think this Town had a GREAT police department and a great Mayor and leaders. Has long had they take care of the town and its people they have my vote.
I agree that the police are good hard working people, but the mayor and his cronies are just as bad or worse than the people listed in this article. Insurance fraud and racketeering are things gangsters get indicted for. Roque is a criminal who let his son take the fall the first time. Who’s he blaming now? The cops work hard in spite of the mayors efforts to ruin this town.
Just when it looked like we were finally gonna get it, here comes another wave of hysterical “get em!” mentality of “cracking down”. Not only will it not help, it will aclually make things worse.