Plainfield,
N.J. – New Jersey State Police and
Plainfield Police Department arrested five
people in a follow up of a 2008 investigation.
Two of the five were wanted on indictments
for illegally selling firearms including
assault weapons.
In
early 2008, the New Jersey State Police
Street Gang North Unit, in partnership with
the Plainfield Police Department, engaged
in a cooperative effort to identify and
investigate criminal street gangs within
the City of Plainfield. The cooperative
effort was named Operation Five Spot because
the investigation focused on five specific
areas that contributed to the majority of
street violence within the City of Plainfield.
This
cooperative initiative between the New Jersey
State Police and the Plainfield Police Department
concluded on April 3, 2008 with the arrests
of 47 people, the execution of 13 search
warrants and the seizure of heroin, crack
cocaine, marijuana, and three handguns.
Most of those arrested were charged with
possession or distribution of drugs. One
person was charged with attempted murder.
Those arrested ranged in age from 16 to
69 years old, and many were suspected of
being members of local gangs like the Clinton
Avenue Posse, the Lib Side Boys, and the
116 Boys, all organizations associated with
the Bloods street gang. After the crackdown
in April 2008, crime in the affected areas
fell by 50 percent and shootings dropped
by 60 percent. Two suspects named in the
original arrest warrants, Jack Hill, 34
and Thomas Townsend, 32 both of Plainfield
were not apprehended during the roundup
and remained at large.
On
May 3, 2010, the New Jersey State Police
Intelligence Unit, Street Gang North Unit,
and the Plainfield Police Department executed
arrest warrants for Hill and Thomas. While
conducting surveillance in the area of Jack
Hill’s residence, State Police detectives
observed Joel Zarala carrying a handgun
and immediately arrested him. Two others
with Zarala were also arrested. Denis Lozano
was arrested for Possession of Marijuana
and Ashlee Nehez was arrested for Disorderly
Conduct. Zarala and Lozano are both believed
to be members of the MS-13 street gang.
Yesterday
May 3rd, arrest warrants were served on
Jack Hill and Thomas Townsend. Hill was
arrested at his residence. A search warrant
on Hill’s residence revealed a Glock
40 caliber handgun, $2,100 cash and marijuana.
Hill was charged with the original indictment
as well as Possession of a Weapon and Possession
of Marijuana. He was lodged at the Union
County Jail.
Thomas
Townsend was later arrested at his place
of employment, Shakur’s Deli at 1348
West 3rd St, Plainfield, N.J. He was taken
to the Union County Jail.
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