April 2, 2003
Trenton,
NJ — A two-week investigation led by the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Special
Investigations Unit (SIU) resulted in four arrests and the seizure of $2,000
worth of crack cocaine, cash and a fully loaded 9mm handgun Prosecutor Daniel G.
Giaquinto announced today.
According
to Prosecutor Giaquinto, his office received numerous citizen complaints
concerning drug activity in the 100 block of East Paul Avenue, Trenton.
Yesterday evening at approximately 5 p.m., SIU detectives, led by Lt. Al
Paglione, executed a search warrant at 63 East Paul Avenue, first floor
apartment. Members of the New
Jersey Division of Criminal Justice, the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, and
the Lawrence and Washington Township Police Departments assisted.
A
search of the residence and its occupants yielded 26 grams of crack cocaine
(estimated street value of $2,000), approximately $1700 in cash, packaging
materials, a digital scale and a fully loaded 9mm semiautomatic handgun.
Lt. Paglione stated that the residence was being utilized as a sale
house.
Arrested
and charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS),
possession with the intent to distribute, possession with the intent to
distribute within 1000 feet of a school, and possession with the intent to
distribute within 500 feet of a public park were Pernell
Shannon, 22, of the East Paul Avenue address, and Shawn
Riley, 24, of the first block of Jamestown Court, Edgewater.
Shannon was also charged with possession of a defaced firearm and
possession of a firearm while committing a CDS offense.
Both Shannon and Riley were on parole at the time of arrest.
They are being held in the Mercer County Correction Center. Cash bails were set by Mercer County Superior Court Judge
Maria M. Sypek at $250,000 and $350,000, respectively.
Steven Harper,
18, of the 1300 block of Princeton Avenue, Trenton, was charged with
possession of CDS and released on his own recognizance.
Patricia Haile, 42, of the
East Paul Street address, was charged with possession of a defaced firearm,
possession of drug paraphernalia and maintaining a narcotics nuisance.
She is being held in the Mercer County Correction Center in lieu of
$25,000 bail.
Despite having been charged, every defendant is presumed innocent until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.