The Kearny Vice squad concluded a drug distribution investigation on April 27. The Vice Squad, with the assistance of Officers Mike Andrews and Neil Nelson, executed a search warrant in the 500 block of Kearny Ave. The Vice squad saw the target leave the residence and confronted him and placed him under arrest. With the warrant, the Vice squad searched the apartment of 28-year-old Taheed Eaton. The search resulted in 21 folds of suspected marijuana, 1 large sandwich bag containing suspected marijuana, one pill bottle of suspected marijuana, $410 cash, numerous drug folds ready for packaging, one digital scale and one marijuana grinder. Eaton was placed under arrest and charged with manufacture and distribution of CDS, distribution of CDS near a school zone, distributing CDS in a public place, and distribution of drug paraphernalia. Bail was set at $25,000.
On April 28, Officer Neil Nelson was on patrol in the area of Davis and Oakwood Aves. around 6 p.m. when he observed an individual in a parked vehicle known from past investigations and placed him under surveillance. During the surveillance, he witnessed the individual inspect the contents of a plastic bag. As he approached the vehicle on foot, he observed the man in possession of a Dutchmasters cigar and a plastic bag of suspected marijuana. Nelson then placed 28-year-old Chintan Desai from Kearny under arrest and charged him with possession of CDS and possession of paraphernalia. He was released with a summons.
The following morning, Officers Jay Ward and Chris Levchak were on patrol on Schuyler Ave. when they observed a vehicle that had been driven up on the sidewalk near Schuyler and Oakwood Aves. When they approached the vehicle, they found an adult male who appeared to be asleep and saw that the car had collided with a metal pole. that had been driven up and only woke up after Ward nudged him on the shoulder. When the driver woke up, Ward asked him if he was ok, to which the driver replied, “Yeah, sure. Why?’. The vehicle was then put into park and the driver was asked to step away from the vehicle. After several attempts at a field sobriety test, the man was unable to stand under his own power and was placed under arrest. The man, 52-year-old Jacob Hahn from Kearny was taken to headquarters and administered an alcohol test. He was charged with Driving while Intoxicated and Careless Driving.
On May 2 around 4:30 p.m., Officer Neil Nelson saw two individuals in the area of Oakwood Ave. and Devon St. that were known to him from prior investigations and placed them under surveillance. During his surveillance, he saw the two men engage in what he believed to be a hand-to-hand drug transaction. Nelson went after the customer, a 16-year-old from Kearny. Nelson recovered a small bag of suspected marijuana from the juvenile. He was placed under arrest and taken to headquarters. Later that day, Nelson and Officer Mike Andrews went to the residence of the seller to confront him. After conducting a consensual search of his home, the officers found five plastic bags containing marijuana, one pill bottle containing endocet pills, and two large Ziploc bags containing smaller Ziploc bags. The man, 26-year-old Kevin Buffit, was placed under arrest and charged with possession of CDS, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of prescription drugs, distribution of CDS to a juvenile, distribution of CDS within 1000 feet of Lincoln school, distribution of CDS within 500 feet of Veteran’s Memorial park.
On May 3, Officer Neil Nelson observed an individual pushing a bike in the area of Chestnut St. behind Mandee around 9:45 p.m. who appeared to be peering into driveways and parked cars in the area. Upon seeing Nelson, the man began to move fast out of the area. He was stopped and detained for a field interview. The man gave conflicting stories about his behavior before finally admitting that he was coming from Newark where he had purchased drugs and turned over to Nelson three plastic bags containing suspected marijuana. The man, 43-year-old James Nowac from Kearny was charged with possession of mariju ana and possession of paraphernalia.
Finally, on May 4, Chief John Dowie was on patrol in the 100 block of Kearny Ave. when around 11:30 p.m. he saw an individual in possession of an open bottle of alcohol in public. The man, 45-year-old Michael Sprague of Kearny was then asked for identification for the town summons and after doing a warrant check, it was revealed that Sprague was wanted by Bloomfield and Belleville on three separate outstanding warrants. He was then placed under arrest and transported to headquarters. He was issued a town summons prior to being turned over to those jurisdictions.
– Anthony J. Machcinski
