Two Arrested on Weapons, Drug Charges

Essex County Sheriff’s officers arrested two men last week and recovered weapons and drugs, the department said in a statement.

Lashawn Gause, 35, was arrested at his S. 19th Street home Dec. 13 on a bench warrant. Sheriff’s officers had to secure three unleashed pit bulls before finding Gause hiding under a bed, authorities said. Gause’s grandmother gave officers permission to search the home. A silver, .380 caliber, Cobra semi-automatic handgun was also recovered from the bedroom along with 60 vials of crack cocaine and drug processing materials.

Gause was being held in lieu of $200,000 bail after being charged with several weapons and drug offenses.    

On Dec. 12, sheriff’s officers on patrol near Mt. Prospect and Victoria avenues reportedly witnessed a drug transaction between a pedestrian and a motorist. When officers approached, Kemone White, a 20-year-old resident of Dolthan, Ala., reportedly ran away, throwing away a silver handgun as he fled through a nearby apartment complex. Officers recovered the weapon, a loaded 9-mm semi-automatic handgun reported stolen from Dolthan.

Officers later found White hiding behind bushes with a second weapon, a defaced, .32-caliber semi-automatic, lying next to him.

He was taken into custody and charged with possession of a defaced weapon, receiving stolen property, resisting arrest and receiving stolen property, among other charges. He was being held in lieu of $35,000 bail.