24 arrested at housing complex
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
By MICHAELANGELO CONTE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Local, county and federal law enforcement arrested 24 people in Jersey City's Booker T. Washington Public Housing Complex last week and they are still looking for one man wanted on the charge of distributing heroin, officials said.

"We plan to continue to monitor the open air illegal drug activity going on at that site and are continuing this cooperation with the Jersey City Housing Authority and various law enforcement agencies," Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio said yesterday.

Some of those arrested were wanted on outstanding warrants, but surveillance led to the arrest of a number of people for drug possession and loitering to commit a drug offense, DeFazio said.

Authorities then charged those believed to be dealing the drugs, DeFazio said.

Police are still looking for Darnell Parsons, 29, of Fremont Street, who is wanted on the charge of distributing heroin within 500 feet of public housing, DeFazio said.

Of those arrested, Derrick Gosa, 18, had 44 vials of suspected cocaine on him, DeFazio said.

Johnny Rosa, 22, of Fremont Street, was arrested during the three-day sweep and charged with distributing heroin within 500 ft. of public housing, DeFazio said. Rosa was present on Aug. 27 when William Griffith, 24, was killed in the complex, DeFazio said.

Rosa refused to leave the area after the shooting and allegedly pushed an officer before dropping a gun, police said. He was not charged in the homicide and was out on a $50,000 bail when he was arrested last week.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Parsons or information about crime in the housing complex, should call the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office at (201) 795-5976.