The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office is investigating an officer-Involved shooting that occurred Friday morning in Kearny, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said tonight.
According to Suarez:
On Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, at approximately 9:20 a.m., members of the Kearny Police Department Street Crimes Unit observed a narcotics transaction in the area of 27 Franklin Place between a juvenile and adult.
Both attempted to flee the area, with the adult driving a vehicle directly at a Kearny police officer who ordered him to stop. One Kearny detective fired at the vehicle, which then fled from the area at a high rate of speed.
The suspect led Kearny police on a pursuit into Newark, where he eventually lost control of his vehicle and crashed at Broad Street and Raymond Boulevard. The suspect was apprehended in the area of 222 Market St.
The defendant, later identified as Quamid Johnson, 25, of Newark, was taken to hospital for injuries sustained in the crash and released into police custody.
At the time of his arrest, Johnson was found to be in possession of 600 wax folds of heroin, or 182 grams – and approximately $500 in cash.
Johnson was charged with aggravated assault, eluding, resisting arrest, possession of CDS (heroin) with intent to distribute, distribution of CDS (heroin) and distribution of heroin within 1,000 feet of a school zone.
The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Internal Affairs Unit is investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting. As is standard protocol, the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office has been notified and the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office is working in conjunction with State Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal.
A police source told The Observer the single shot that was fired did not hit anyone.
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Kevin A. Canessa Jr. is the editor of and broadcaster at The Observer, an organization he has served since 2006. He is responsible for the editorial content of the newspaper and website, the production of the e-Newspaper, writing several stories per week (including the weekly editorial), conducting live broadcasts on social media channels such as YouTube, Facebook, and X, including a weekly recap of the news — and much more behind the scenes. Between 2006 and 2008, he introduced the newspaper to its first-ever blog — which included podcasts, audio and video. Originally from Jersey City, Kevin lived in Kearny until 2004, lived in Port St. Lucie. Florida, for four years until February 2016 and in March of that year, he moved back to Kearny to return to The Observer full time. Click Here to send Kevin an email.