Police targets rampant drug use, dealing near Paterson library for second time in 10 days
By Jonathan Greene
Published: September 10, 2020
Six people were arrested in a sweep targeting “rampant” drug use and dealing in the immediate area of the Danforth Memorial Library on Wednesday, according to public safety director Jerry Speziale.
Shequan Roberts, 21, of Paterson; D’Andre Ruff, 18, of Paterson; Elijah Rich, 21, of Paterson; Fred Thomas, 60, of Paterson; Louis Martire, 36, of Forset City, Penn.; and Julia Walsh, 49, of Little Ferry, were charged with various drug offenses.
Roberts, Ruff, Rich, Thomas, and Martire were each charged with four drug possession and distribution offenses.
Rich was additionally charged with resisting arrest. Walsh was charged with two drug possession offenses.
Police seized 651 glassine envelopes of heroin, 10 baggies of crack cocaine, and $2,185 cash during the sweep.
Ten days earlier, police conducted a similar drug sweep that yielded 12 arrests in the same area.
Police received complaints of drug activity in the area from residents and businesses.