Police Blotter
The following information was provided by police unless otherwise noted
Trenton
Cocaine Bust: Four men were arrested and cops seized $5,000 in cocaine following a monthlong investigation led by the Mercer County Narcotics Task Force. Authorities were watching Peter McCray’s New York Avenue house and vehicle in the early morning of Aug. 22. Detectives armed with a warrant searched McCray’s apartment and found 50 grams of cocaine and a loaded .32 caliber handgun in his bedroom. Cops also discovered a bundle of heroin and $660 in cash. McCray, 61, was arrested and charged with second-degree narcotics offenses, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and certain persons not to possess a firearm. Three others inside the home, Alejandro GilPerez, 37, Misael Auceda-Eureda, 31, and Felix Vindas, 41, were each charged with possession and distribution of a controlled dangerous substance. McCray is being held at the county jail as prosecutors seek to have him detained until trial.
Two Shot: Two men were shot Saturday near Hermitage Avenue and Boudinot Street. The 36-year-old man was shot in the ankle and suffered graze wounds to his head and left foot. He was taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center for treatment. A second man, 38, was shot in the back and taken to the hospital by private means. Both men were listed in stable condition. No arrests have been made. One of the victims told cops he was in the area with a large group of people when he heard gunshots coming from an unknown direction. He ran away and then realized he had been shot.
Shooting: Police are investigating a shooting that injured a 20-year-old man early Monday morning. The shooting happened on the 100 block of Coolidge Avenue, around 12:30 a.m. The victim, who suffered a gunshot wound to the back and hand, told cops he was on the block when another car rolled up him. Two assailants in all black wearings masks got out and shot at his car. The victim escaped to the 700 block of Pennington Avenue, where cops found him. He was taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center, where he underwent emergency surgery. Detectives from the Shooting Response Team recovered shell casings at the scene and continue to investigate. No arrests have been made, and cops don’t have any leads on the possible vehicle involved in the gunplay. Red Bull Bandit: Michael Gayle, 50, was arrested and charged with robbery after trying to steal 19 Red Bulls from a cooler inside the 7-Eleven on the 700 block of Chambers Street. A clerk stopped him at the door another contacted police. As the workers attempted to keep Gayle from leaving, he bit one of the clerk’s and scratched the other. He was taken into custody without incident when cops arrived. The clerks did not seek medical attention.
Drug Bust: Rodney Frazier, 55, was arrested by street crime detectives near Broad and State streets after he was caught trying to sell drugs to people. He was found with 13 decks of heroin and $280 in cash, seized as drug proceeds.
Gun Seized: Evan Irving, 19, was arrested after street crime detectives pulled him over near Pennington Avenue. Irving, one of the occupants in the vehicle, got out of the car and ran away as cops approached. He was arrested after a short chase, and cops recovered a handgun with an extended clip. Andre Maxwell and Tyrese Melton, both 18, were also arrested and charged with obstruction for not following detectives’ orders.
Caught on Tape: Carlos Bentancourt, 28, and Kendall Hawley, 37, were arrested over the weekend after cops responded to the Rite Aid Pharmacy on the 1000 block of South Broad Street. The manager told cops that three people stole and ran out of the store. One of the officers reviewed the surveillance cameras and recognized the suspects from prior dealings. The cop saw two of them later in the night on the 100 block of Hamilton Avenue. Bentancourt and Hawley were taken into custody. Bentancourt was found with two hypodermic needles and also had warrants out for his arrest.
Piece in Pants: Jaden Tucker, 18, was arrested after cops attempted to stop his car near the North 24 housing complex for having illegally tinted windows. Tucker accelerated and pulled into a parking spot on Fairway Drive. Tucker got out of the car and walked away while holding the front of his pants and looking over his shoulder. Officers ordered him to come back to the vehicle but he refused and tried to get into one of the buildings, frantically banging on the door but no one came. Tucker was found with a loaded handgun in his pants pocket. He also had hollow-point rounds.
Stabbing: Shaquilla Edmond, 28, was arrested after police responded to the 200 block of Passaic Street on a stabbing. A man told cops he spent the night at Edmond’s house and went to leave in the morning when they got into an argument because she didn’t want him to leave. Edmond followed him outside and stabbed him in the hand with a knife, which was not recovered. Edmond was charged with aggravated assault and weapons offenses.