N.J. county arrests dozens of fugitives on outstanding criminal warrants

Operation Essex

Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II flanked by Sheriff Armando Fontoura, left, and Newark Public Safety Director Fritz Fragé, right.

An October sweep by law enforcement officers through Essex County has resulted in the arrests of 41 suspects on outstanding warrants for crimes ranging from drug possession to sexual assault and murder, acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II announced Monday.

The Essex County Sheriff’s Department started knocking on doors earlier this month in a sweep dubbed “Operation Essex,” and locked up 41 suspects who had either failed to appear in court or were awaiting trial and charged with new crimes.

“Our mission is to ensure the safety of all Essex County residents,” Stephens, said, “and apprehending fugitives is a part of that mission. "

Four of the fugitives apprehended in the sweep were wanted for murder, the prosecutor said. Others were arrested for violent crimes of aggravated assault, robbery and weapons possession.

Stephens said pursuing fugitives is dangerous work, and he commended the officers who took part in Operation Essex. Stephens said he believes that bail reform in New Jersey been fairly effective in allowing defendants seen as a small risk to commit another offense to go free while awaiting trial, but these suspects were considered dangerous — with 12 of them connected to street gangs, he said.

“I really want to commend the officers who went out and conducted this action,” the prosecutor said. “It takes courage to knock on that door.”

Stephens said all of the suspects are locked up and awaiting another round of detention hearings. He said the prosecutor’s office will move to detain defendants who are considered to be dangerous or a flight risk.

Although deemed a success, the October roundup represents a tiny fraction of the number of people with outstanding warrants in Essex County. Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura said there are currently 4,000 county residents with outstanding warrants, and the sheriff’s department arrested 3,000 people on outstanding warrants last year.

Fontoura said with so many people wanted by the law, the latest sweep focused on suspects who were considered the most dangerous.

“The individuals that were brought in, we should not anticipate that they were in church with their families,” the sheriff said. “We can, however, almost certainly anticipate that they were up to no good. That they were up to their old tricks. So it’s critical, very important, that we conduct these sweeps on a regular basis.”

Newark Public Safety Director Fritz Fragé urged people with outstanding warrants to turn themselves in. He said the city’s Violence Prevention office runs a program with four churches in the city where fugitives can turn themselves in. The phone number is 973-733-5655 or call the Newark Police Department and ask for the office of Violence Prevention.

The homicide suspects arrested in the October fugitive sweep were identified as:

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Richard Cowen may be reached at rcowen@njadvancemedica.com.

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