NEWARK, NJ – Newark Public Safety Director Brian A. O’Hara reports that Newark Police Officers safely arrested three armed suspects in two separate incidents using Arrest and Control Tactics on September 7, 2021 and on August 28, 2021.
“I’m grateful that in each of these incidents, our officers exercised the appropriate restraint by taking the decisive actions to safely apprehend three armed suspects,” Director O’Hara said. “I commend each officer for successfully employing de-escalation and Arrest and Control Tactics training.”
On September 7th, police arrested Kaseem Callender, 25, and Keon Orr, 22, both of Newark, in connection with an armed robbery. Just after 8 a.m., a victim approached 6th Precinct Police Officer R. Owusu-Antwi, who was inside a patrol car at the North Munn Avenue entrance of the Bradley Court apartment complex. The victim reported that he and a second victim were robbed at gunpoint while inside a vehicle. Officer Owusu-Antwi canvassed the area and located one of the suspects, Callender, who resisted arrest before tossing a loaded handgun on the ground on Chelsea Avenue.
The second suspect, Orr, arrived at the scene and verbally threatened the life of one of the victims before fleeing. Additional officers responded and located Orr. Both suspects were safely taken into custody. Callender faces charges of robbery, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and conspiracy. Orr is charged with robbery, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, conspiracy and terroristic threats.
On August 28th, police officers arrested Tavares Thompson, 40, of Newark, following an aggravated assault of a woman he knows by strangling the victim and striking her with a gun after threatening her and a juvenile with the weapon while inside a West Ward residence. At approximately 9 p.m., Officers S. Reid and L. Mendoza of the 4th Precinct responded and observed Thompson with a gun while he was leaving the residence.
Thompson resisted arrest, but was safely taken into custody. He was found in possession of a Sig Sauer M17 Airsoft pistol, a Black .45 caliber Airsoft pistol and five counterfeit $100.00 bills. Thompson faces two counts of aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, terroristic threats, along with three counts of endangering the welfare of a child, obstruction of justice and criminal mischief.
“Since the end of June, about half of the Newark Police patrol force has undergone our Arrest and Control Tactics training to quickly, safely and effectively apprehend a suspect during the arrest process while limiting any potential injury to the police officer, suspect and any civilians in the area,” Director O’Hara said. “The techniques taught during the training are utilized specifically when dealing with non-compliant or combative, actively resisting individuals. Every sworn member will be given this training as part of our efforts to de-escalate potentially violent encounters and to decrease injuries both to our officers and the people we take into custody,” Director O’Hara added.