October 19, 2002
Trenton,
NJ—
Mercer County Prosecutor Daniel G. Giaquinto announced that Maurice Norwood, age
20, of the 900 block of East State Street, Trenton, was arrested as the result
of a month-long investigation into the distribution of crack-cocaine.
Norwood, who was free on $500,000 bail for his role in the homicide of
Richard Vaught which occurred earlier this year, was arrested by members of the
Prosecutor’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) under the command of Lt. Al
Paglione.
According to Prosecutor
Giaquinto, his office received information from concerned citizens that Norwood
was distributing crack-cocaine in the greater-Trenton area.
As a result of the investigation, the SIU was able to obtain search
warrants for Norwood and his East State Street residence.
Lt. Paglione indicated that
members of the SIU, assisted by investigators from the New Jersey Division of
Criminal Justice and Washington Township Police Department, followed Norwood
into Hamilton Township from his Trenton residence.
In the area of Exton Avenue, Norwood signaled to Denise Morettoni, age
35, of the first block of Oxford Avenue, Hamilton, to follow him onto Thropp
Avenue. On Thropp Avenue, Morettoni
got into Norwood’s car at which point officers boxed in Norwood.
Paglione indicated that Norwood, despite being boxed in, attempted to
flee the Thropp Avenue in his car area but was prevented from doing so by
officers.
Officers discovered a
quantity of crack-cocaine on the front seat of Norwood’s car; $280 in cash;
and, a hunting knife under the front seat.
Prosecutor Giaquinto stated
that officers then executed the search warrants at Norwood’s residence where
an additional quantity of crack-cocaine was recovered along with a fully loaded
.38 caliber revolver and $2,400 in cash. A
total of 115 grams of crack-cocaine, with a street value of approximately
$6,000, was recovered.
Norwood
was arrested and charged with 2 counts of possession of a c.d.s.; 2 counts of
possession with the intent to distribute c.d.s.; possession with the intent to
distribute a c.d.s. within 1,000 feet of a school and 500 feet of a public
facility; possession of a firearm while engaged in narcotics activity; and,
resisting arrest. Officers also
charged a 17-year-old juvenile with
possession of c.d.s. and possession of c.d.s. with the intent to distribute.
Morettoni was charged with
loitering to buy or sell c.d.s. and released on her own recognizance.
Norwood’s bail was set at
$250,000 cash by Superior Court Judge Maryann K. Bielamowicz. He is currently being held at the Mercer County Corrections
Center. The juvenile was remanded
to the Mercer County Youth Detention Center pending a hearing.
Norwood was charged with
murder earlier this year when he allegedly acted as the driver for Stanley
Carter who shot and killed Richard Vaught.
Prosecutor Giaquinto stated
that Norwood’s ability to “free himself by posting a bond on a homicide
charge and then turning around, arming himself and engaging in these criminal
activities is outrageous. This case
dramatically underscores the need for real bail reform in New Jersey and the
need to give our judges the ‘cash only’ option when dealing with violent
offenders such as Maurice Norwood.”
Despite having been charged with a crime, all persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.