Loaded Uzi, Drugs Seized in Newark Sweep

Five people were charged and narcotics and weapons—including a loaded Uzi machine gun—were recovered during a string of arrests Tuesday by Newark police, department spokesman Detective Todd McClendon said.

The Uzi was seized after undercover police—on proactive patrols in response to residents’ complaints about crime in the area—spotted two men allegedly smoking marijuana near 14th Avenue and S. 8th Street.

The 23-year-old cousins, Rashad Mclendon, of Newark, and Alquan Mclendon, of Irvington, were arrested around 10:30 a.m. and charged with numerous weapons and drug violations after police found the gun as well as $300 in cocaine and gloves and a ski mask in a car near where the men were standing, McClendon said. The car is registered to Alquan Mcclendon’s mother, McClendon said.

Both men have extensive criminal records.

Later that evening at 10:30 p.m., members of the narcotics-gang unit, following up on information received through the Crimestoppers tip line, arrived at 219 N. 5th St. where Hassan Scott was allegedly seen dumping a small bag into a nearby parked car. The 33-year-old city resident was arrested after police found marijuana in the bag, McClendon said.

A second man was also arrested after police heard shouting from a nearby abandoned building. When they went to investigate, officers saw Jonathan Vega, 20, attempting to hide a loaded .25-caliber gun near some steps, McClendon said. Vega, whose criminal history includes arrests for carjacking and aggravated assault, was also carrying cocaine worth $200, McClendon said. 

A half-hour later, police from East Orange and Newark officers responded to 32 Columbia Ave. after receiving a report of a person with a firearm. Alraham Ore, 25, of Hillside, was arrested after police found a loaded .38-caliber gun in a bag Ore was carrying, McClendon said.

"The correlation between these small-scale weapons of mass destruction and the narcotics trade is evident. We are fortunate every time we have an opportunity to remove one of these tools of destruction from our community, particularly the assault style weapons,” Newark Police Director Samuel DeMaio said. "I am, however, very pleased that the members of our community continue to play an active role in improving the safety in our city through calls into our anonymous tip lines.”