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.