Heroin charge holds thug, 14

Friday, May 25, 2007
By MICHAELANGELO CONTE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Police found several bags of heroin on a 14-year-old Jersey City boy after they stopped him from beating another boy with a stick, police said.

The Virginia Avenue boy was arrested at 6:49 p.m. Wednesday on Danforth Avenue and charged with robbery, weapons offenses, and drug charges, including possession of heroin with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school, reports said.

Officers Kevin Kot and Carmine Disbrow spotted the boy in a group of 10 teens walking on Fowler Avenue near Danforth, reports said, adding that they were running in and out of the street, causing a hazardous traffic situation.

When the group confronted another group of about 10 boys, the Virginia Avenue boy began beating a 14-year-old Ocean Avenue boy about the head and body with the stick, and the groups began fighting, reports said.

The officers called for backup and with additional officers they approached the boys, who ran away in different directions, reports said. The officers kept an eye on the Virginia Avenue boy, but when they jumped out of their unmarked car beside him, he ran, reports said.

The boy kept a hand in one of his pockets as he ran, causing the officers to draw their guns, reports said. When they caught him they found he had five bags of suspected heroin in the pocket, reports said.