NEWARK, NJ — A reputed member of the Bloods street gang was arrested Aug. 19 by Essex County sheriff’s officers, who recovered multiple firearms at the scene.
Sheriff Armando Fontoura stated in an Aug. 20 press release that officers from his department’s Patrol Division were performing uniformed quality of life operations on the evening of Saturday, Aug 19, when they observed a double-parked 2017 Kia Optima, occupied by four males, near the intersection of Sussex Avenue and Steuben Street in Newark.
“As our officers were running a license plate check on the Kia, the driver, later identified as Jordy Delouis, 18, of East Orange, finished a conversation with a male passerby with a recognizable Bloods handshake and pulled away from the scene,” Fontoura said. “The Kia was followed. The plate check revealed that the suspect car had been reported stolen out of Newark on Aug. 18, 2017, and our officers attempted to conduct a motor vehicle stop by activating their lights and siren.”
The Kia’s driver allegedly sped away from the sheriff’s officers at a high rate of speed and in a reckless manner causing potential harm to area pedestrians and other traffic.
“At the intersection of West Market and Humboldt streets the Kia crashed into and disabled an Audi sedan that was stopped for a red light,” Fontoura said. “The Kia then careened into a chain-link fence at the Donald M. Payne School construction site.”
All four suspects bailed out of the car and allegedly attempted to flee on foot.
“While three of the four suspects ran, Delouis limped away as fast as he could,” Fontoura said. “He was soon captured and placed under arrest. When questioned if he had been injured as a result of the crash, Delouis volunteered that he had been shot in the leg two weeks ago without any further explanation.”
After securing Delouis, the officers checked on the condition of the driver of the Audi. He was uninjured and refused medical attention.
“Inside the stolen Kia and in plain view, our officers seized two, high-powered, loaded, semi-automatic handguns, a Cobra FS380 and a Kel-Tec P11. These two weapons have the capability of causing tremendous damage to the residents of our community,” Fontoura said.
Delouis was charged with two counts of the unlawful possession of a weapon and one count each of the possession of a defaced weapon, receiving stolen property and eluding police. He was also issued motor vehicle summonses for double parking, being an unlicensed driver, reckless driving and leaving the scene of an accident. Delouis was lodged at the Essex County Jail, where he awaits a bail hearing on the above charges.
A search for the other three suspects continues.
All defendants are considered innocent unless or until they are proved guilty in a court of law or enter a guilty plea.