Police arrest 18 people in week long narcotics operation
By Jayed Rahman
Published: July 21, 2015
18 people were arrested mostly on drug charges following a week long narcotic suppression detail, said police director Jerry Speziale.
The week long operation that ran from July 14th, 2015 to July 20th, 2015 resulted in the recovery of more than 300 glassines of heroin, 68 bags of crack-cocaine, 47 bags of marijuana, and $782 in alleged drug proceeds.
Police arrested Erik E. Jackson, 19, of Nanuet, NY; Caitlin E. Pieretti, 19, of Pearl River, NY; and their underage Paterson drug dealer were arrested on Mercer and Putnam Streets last Tuesday. All three have been charged with heroin possession and distribution. The juvenile allegedly sold 45 glassines of heroin to Jackson and Pieretti, according to police.
Benjamin D. Bloom, 38, and Joseph T. Scarangello, 28, both of Landing were arrested on 12th Avenue and East 23rd Street on possession of one glassine envelope of heroin.
On nearby 12th Avenue and East 22nd Street police arrested Ferrie T. Johnson, 20 and Maurice Chestnut, 24, both of Paterson. Johnson allegedly had 17 baggies of marijuana and Chestnut had six baggies of crack-cocaine.
Chestnut was also charged with resisting arrest.
On Thursday, police arrested Rania Zarzar, 39, of Haledon on Mill and Slater Streets on possession of five glassines of heroin. At the same location police arrested Kareem Scott, 18, of Paterson with 64 glassines of heroin.
Scott sold the five glassines to Zarzar. He was found in possession of 64 glassines of heroin, 28 bags of crack-cocaine, and 30 baggies of marijuana. He was also charged with distributing drugs in a school zone and resisting arrest.
John A. Deleon also known as “Ant,” 19, of Paterson was arrested on 15th Avenue and East 27th Street, on possession of 25 glassines of heroin. He was also charged with dealing drugs in a school zone.
On Friday, police crackdown on Madison and Oak Streets arresting Dennis Muniz, 35, of Paterson for loitering to commit a drug offense. Also arrested at the location was Franklin Wesner III, 28, of Clifton was arrested with three glassines of heroin.
Dennis P. Hughes, 30, and Robert Figueroa, 45, both of Paterson were arrested on heroin possession. Hughes allegedly had three glassines of heroin; Figueroa had 84 glassines of heroin.
Figueroa sold three glassines to Hughes and Wesner. $119 in drug proceeds was confiscated from Figueroa, according to police.
Orlando Cintron, 46, of Paterson, allegedly had 84 glassines of heroin. $663 was confiscated from Cintron. Figueroa and Cintron are both Madison Street residents.
On Sunday, police arrested Chayana Girao, 25, of Paterson on Rosa Parks Boulevard and Putnam Street for disorderly conduct and providing false information.
Joseph N. Frascogna, 33, of North Haledon, was arrested on Monday at 34 Jefferson Street on possession of 10 glassines of heroin. Khadir M. Lindsey, 19, a Jefferson Street resident, was charged with passion of 30 glassines of heroin.
Lindsey sold 10 glassines to Frascogna.
The 18 arrests marks the latest crime suppression details conducted by city police in various parts of the city to quell the supply and demand of drugs.
“As we continue in our efforts to reduce violent crime we will also continue to attack the demand and supply of drugs in our city,” said Speziale.