Cops: Men Intended to Sell Heroin at Garden State Plaza

Two Passaic County men were arrested Wednesday after police say they intended to sell six bricks of heroin at Garden State Plaza in Paramus.

Maliek J. Cooper, 30, and James Cross, 32, both of Paterson, were arrested after a two month long investigation conducted by the Bergen County Narcotic Task Force, the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office and the Paramus and Elmwood Park Police Departments discovered that Cooper and Cross were allegedly “dealing heroin on a regular basis,” Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli said.

The men were arrested on Feb. 4 after “detectives discovered that Cooper and Cross were in possession of approximately six bricks, equivalent to 300 bags, of suspected heroin they intended to sell at the Garden State Plaza,” Molinelli said.

Cooper and Cross were both charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin, a third degree crime. They were remanded to the Bergen County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail with no 10 percent cash option.

Detectives say “numerous other criminal charges in relation to this investigation will be presented to the Bergen County Grand Jury for potential Indictment during a future court proceeding.”

Picture 1: Maliek Cooper

Picture 2: James Cross