Police Blotter: Officers Make Drug Arrests Following Motor Vehicle Stops

made several drug arrests between July 9 and 15, many of which were the result of routine motor vehicle stops.

July 9

• At 12:40 a.m., Patrolman John Rattigan stopped a 1999 Honda on North Avenue near the Garden State Parkway entrance ramp for a motor vehicle violation. As a result of the investigation the driver, Alante Ali-Gonzalez, 19, of East Orange, and four passengers: Kason Mclain, 18; Cisco Moffett, 19; Jeremiah Narvaez, 22 and Denzel Thompson Williams, 19, all of East Orange, were arrested and charged with possession of under 50 grams of marijuana  and possession of drug paraphernalia. In addition, Ali-Gonzalez was issued motor vehicle summonses for careless driving, possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a motor vehicle and violation of his probationary driver’s license within the allowed hours of operation. They suspects were released pending a Cranford Municipal Court date.

• At 9:46 p.m., Patrolman Spencer Durkin stopped a 1994 Honda for a motor vehicle violation on Lincoln Avenue at Retford Avenue. During the investigation the passenger, Asaph Francois, 18, of Orange, was arrested and charged with possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia and was issued a motor vehicle summons for failure to wear his seatbelt. Francois was released pending a Cranford Municipal Court date.

July 12

• At 1:18 a.m., Patrolman Steven D’Ambola stopped a 2004 Saturn on North Avenue at Carpenter Place for a motor vehicle violation. As a result of the investigation, the driver, Rubens Francis, 26, of Elizabeth, and passenger Jermaine Vincent, 32, of Irvington, were arrested and charged with possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Francis was issued motor vehicle summonses for improper turn and possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a motor vehicle. Vincent had an outstanding traffic warrant out of Hillside in the amount of $208 bail. Vincent was released after posting bail from the Hillside warrant. Francis and Vincent were also given a Superior Court date.

• At 10:24 p.m. Patrolman Christopher DiFabio stopped a 1995 Chrysler on Cayuga Road at Centennial Avenue for a motor vehicle violation. Following an investigation, the driver, Amin Queen, 26, of Roselle, was arrested and charged with possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Queen was issued motor vehicle summonses for making an improper turn, and possession of CDS in a motor vehicle. Queen was released with a Cranford Municipal Court date.

July 15

• At 7:56 a.m., Patrolman Spencer Durkin stopped a 2008 Nissan on Centennial Avenue at Raritan Road for a motor vehicle violation. Following an investigation, Leroy McPherson, 26, of Newark, was arrested and charged with possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.  McPherson was also issued motor vehicle summonses for improper turn, failure to wear a seatbelt, and CDS in a motor vehicle. He was released with a Cranford Municipal Court date.