Law enforcement raid in Newark finds drugs, semi-automatic weapon

NEWARK, NJ — On Sept. 18, a law enforcement task force, comprised of Essex County sheriff’s detectives and detectives from the Newark, Bloomfield and Irvington police departments, executed a search warrant for a West Ward residence in the city and recovered nearly $30,000 in illegal narcotics and a powerful semi-automatic weapon.

Sheriff Armando Fontoura said the warrant was executed shortly before noon at the residence of William Lowther, 34, located at 878 S. 19th Street. 

“As of result of today’s search, our officers recovered a fully loaded, .45 caliber, Springfield Arms semi-automatic handgun; 2,502 heroin-filled envelopes, stamped ‘PASSION’ in blue ink; 206 grams of marijuana; a large cache of ammunition in various calibers; and a wide variety of drug packaging and processing paraphernalia,” Fontoura said. “At the time of today’s raid, Lowther, the target of our investigation and a suspect with a lengthy criminal history, was not at home. Our search for his whereabouts continues and we ask those persons with information about the suspect to contact our Crimestoppers 24/7 hotline at 973-877-8477. All calls to Crimestoppers will be kept confidential.”

Multiple weapons and narcotics charges against Lowther are pending.

These charges are merely accusations; all defendants are considered innocent unless or until they are found guilty in a court of law.