Gang unit cops target drug crew; 1 arrest

Wednesday, December 05, 2007
By PAUL KOEPP
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

One alleged gang member was arrested and another slipped away from police Monday night after cops sneaked into a building on Lexington Avenue in Jersey City where drugs were being sold on the front porch, police said.

According to police, the bust was part of an ongoing effort by the Police Department gang unit.

According to reports, Curtis Felder, 23, and Shyquan Bethea, 19, were distributing drugs on the front porch of a building on Lexington between Bergen Avenue and Kennedy Boulevard shortly before 11 p.m. Monday when cops decided an officer would approach them while other officers, who earlier had surreptitiously taken positions in a vacant apartment on the building's third floor, would leave their hiding places, reports said.

But before they acted on the plan, Felder walked up to the third floor and entered the darkened apartment, where he saw one of the officers standing in the shadows, police said. The officer, who was familiar with Felder, identified himself and said, "Don't move, Curtis," reports said.

According to police, Felder ran out the door and struggled with the officers in the hallway. At the same time, Bethea ran up to the third floor to escape officers arriving at the building, threw down a large plastic bag and became involved in the fight, police said.

Bethea eventually entered the vacant apartment, and slammed the door on the arm of one of the officers, before fleeing on a rear fire escape, reports said.

The bag he dropped was found to contain 45 vials of suspected cocaine, and a search of Felder yielded 18 more vials of suspected cocaine, as well as $236 in cash, police said.

Felder, of Bergen Avenue, was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute near a school, aggravated assault on a police officer, resisting arrest, burglary and weapons offenses, reports said. A warrant was issued for Bethea, of Lexington Avenue, reports said.

According to reports, Bethea, known as "Little Shy," is a past member of the Lex Mob street gang and a current member of the Bloods gang and Felder, known as "CJ," is a member of the Lex Mob.