October 17, 2001
Trenton,
NJ — Search warrants executed this morning by the Mercer County Narcotics Task
Force resulted in two arrests and the seizure of 70 bags of heroin, Mercer
County Prosecutor Daniel G. Giaquinto announced.
Terry Graves, 18, of the first block of Hillcrest Avenue, Trenton, and a 17-year-old
Trenton male were arrested and charged with possession of a controlled
dangerous substance (CDS), possession of CDS with the intent to distribute,
possession with the intent to distribute within 1000 feet of a school,
possession with the intent to distribute within 500 feet of a park, two counts
of aggravated assault and eluding police.
The
narcotics task force, led by Lt. Al Paglione and the Mercer County
Prosecutor’s Special Investigations Unit, began an investigation approximately
three weeks ago following several complaints that the south Trenton area was
flooded with heroin.
At
approximately 10 a.m. this morning, members of the task force attempted to stop
a Nissan Altima and its two occupants at the McDonald’s on Cass Street in
Trenton. Upon observing officers,
the driver of the vehicle, identified as Graves, attempted to flee by backing
out of the area at a high rate of speed, striking several vehicles.
A Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office detective was attempting to exit
one of these vehicles as it was struck and fired two rounds from his 40 caliber
service weapon. The bullets did not
hit either of the defendants. Graves
then stopped the vehicle and both suspects were removed and arrested.
A
search of the vehicle produced 70 bags of heroin marked “ReadyToDie” and
$370 in cash. The West Windsor
police, the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department and the New Jersey State Police
assisted in the arrests.
Graves
is being held in the Mercer County Corrections Center in lieu of $150,000 bail.
The juvenile is being lodged in the Mercer County Youth Detention Center.
The
shooting is currently under investigation by the Mercer County Prosecutor’s
Office Internal Affairs Unit. This
is normal procedure whenever a police officer discharges a weapon.
Due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, no further details are
available at this time.
Despite
having been arrested, every defendant is presumed innocent until found guilty
beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.