Fairfield (NJ) The Fairfield Police Department announces the arrest of Joshua McKay-Smith (24), Shannon Provant (29) and Clayon Richards (33) all of Far Rockaway, N.Y., Pechena Elsy (22) and Jordan Rodriguez (24) both of Aurora, CO, and Jyasia Marrero (21) of Queens, N.Y., for drug related and other criminal offenses on October 28, 2022.
On that date, at approximately 4:06 PM, off duty Fairfield Police Officer James Ciampi was in the Walgreens parking lot, located at 397 Route 46 West, when he allegedly observed some of the occupants of a 2015 beige Nissan, appearing to be involved in the use of a controlled dangerous substance. He alerted on duty officers to his observations. Prior to the arrival of police, the vehicle entered Route 46 West.
Cpl. James High, who was responding to the call, then located a vehicle matching the description of the suspect’s vehicle, on Route 46 near Plymouth Street. It allegedly had an illegible temporary registration affixed to the rear window. The vehicle was then stopped. Other officers arrived shortly thereafter.
The driver, identified as Provant, informed officers that she did not have her driver’s license with her. As the officers continued with their investigation, it is alleged that the accounts that were told to them by the occupants of the vehicle did not match with each other. At this point, a narcotics detection dog was requested from the Essex County Sheriff’s Department. It is alleged that the dog gave a positive indication for the presence of narcotics inside of the vehicle.
It is alleged that officers then conducted a search of the vehicle and discovered several items of alleged contraband to include pipes with suspected cocaine residue, a large sized canister of OC spray/mace and three checkbooks with one loose crumpled up check that were not in the names of any of the occupants.
The occupants of the vehicle were then searched. At this time, it is alleged that either McKay-Smith or Provant, who were seated on a guard rail next to each other, attempted to discard a plastic bag that was found to contain (18) suspected OxyContin tablets along with other unknow tablets. McKay-Smith was then search and allegedly he was found in possession of a hollow point bullet. He was then placed under arrest. It is further alleged that it was later discovered that McKay-Smith had initially provided officers with a false name.
At this point, based upon the totality of the circumstances, all of the other occupants of the vehicle were being placed under arrest. It is alleged that both Marrero and Richards physically resisted arrest, with Marrero assaulting Det. Michael Tilton. All were finally placed under arrest and eventually brought to police headquarters. It is alleged that Richards also initially provided officers with a false name. It was later discovered that he did so because he had an active warrant for his arrest out of Nassau County.
The following charges were filed against each defendant:
Jordan Rodriguez was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of mace in an unlawful amount. He was eventually released on his own recognizance.
Pechena Elsy was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of mace in an unlawful amount. During her processing, it was determined that she had an active arrest warrant issued by the Broward County (FLA) Sheriff’s Department. She was transported to the Essex County Jail pending extradition to Florida.
Jyaasia Marrero was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of mace in an unlawful amount, aggravated assault on a police officer and resisting arrest. She was eventually released on his own recognizance.
Shannon Provant was charged with two counts of possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of mace in an unlawful amount. She was eventually released on his own recognizance.
Joshua McKay-Smith was charged with two counts of possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of mace in an unlawful amount, hindering apprehension, identity theft, and possession of a hollow point bullet. He was eventually released on his own recognizance.
Clayon Richards was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of mace in an unlawful amount, resisting arrest and hindering apprehension. He was transported to the Essex County Jail pending extradition to Nassau County New York.
All of the occupants are scheduled to appear in the Superior Court in Essex County on December 2, 2022. Fairfield detectives will be continuing the investigation into the origin of the recovered checks.
(It should be noted that the charges against all suspects are merely allegations and that they are all presumed innocent until he either pleads guilty or is found guilty in a court of law)
Authorized by: Chief Anthony Manna
Comments