A city man pleaded guilty to purchasing heroin on Hemlock Street, a quiet street in South Paterson that has witnessed increased drug trafficking and gun violence.
Hassan Ammar, 34-year-old, pleaded guilty to heroin possession before Passaic County Superior Court judge Marilyn Clark on October 6.
On January 24 at about 10:24 a.m., Ammar drove to 35 Hemlock Street to purchase drugs. He purchased heroin from the area and tried to leave in a vehicle.
Police pulled him over and seized heroin from his vehicle’s cup holder.
Ammar is expected to be sentenced to probation. Ammar was born in Jordan. He became a citizen in 2002 after his parents went through U.S. naturalization, he said in court. He has struggled with drugs for years.
In 2006, he was found in possession of marijuana. In 2008, he pleaded guilty to a marijuana offense. Again in 2008, he pleaded guilty to having marijuana. In 2009, he was guilty of prowling for drugs. In 2011, he was guilty of marijuana possession. In 2016, he was guilty of loitering to obtain drugs.
Ammar was using 10 bags of heroin daily from 2013 to 2020. He has received detox treatment five times at the Straight and Narrow and Bergen Regional.
“There’s no doubt this has been a real problem,” said Passaic County judge Marilyn Clark during sentencing on October 29.
Ammar was sentenced to probation on October 29.
Ammar went up to the 11th grade in Clifton.
Hemlock Street is just a single city block. It has witnessed multiple shootings over the past year and half, including one on Saturday.
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This story was updated with sentencing information on October 30.