Three Charged with Drug Possession in Belleville

Belleville police arrested three people last week on narcotics charges.

On Dec. 28 at around 10:30 pm, officers approached an occupied parked car with its windows fogged. Police reportedly observed a passenger in the car, 19-year-old township resident Pablo Romero IV, stuff items into his pockets. He was arrested after a search turned up nine glassine envelopes of what appeared to be heroin.

The following day, at around 7:50 pm, police approached a car stopped in the middle of the street near 195 Franklin Ave. The driver, Nizar Mashini, 35, of Hillside, was wanted on a warrant issued by the Essex County Sheriff’s Office. Police also found a few decks of heroin and charged Nashini for narcotics offenses.

Earlier that day, at 3:30 am, police approached a car stopped and idling in the road near N. 7th and Franklin streets. An occupant of the car  26-year-old Irvington resident Phillip Gomez, was arrested after police found a clear plastic bag containing a white powder believed to be cocaine. Gomez was charged with possession.

Information about how long the suspects were held following their arrests was not immediately available Monday.