ASHANTI M. ALVAREZ
February 2, 2001, FRIDAY
Copyright 2001 North Jersey Media Group Inc.
The Record (Bergen County, NJ)
February 2, 2001, FRIDAY
(PASSAIC COUNTY) -- A 19-year-old city resident who tried to eat cocaine while in a holding cell at police headquarters is being held at the Passaic County Jail, police said.
Shaheem M. Rembert of Myrtle Avenue faces several drug charges after being arrested on a street corner Wednesday afternoon. Police Officers Thomas Kochis and Juan Nieves were patrolling the area of 176Third St. when they saw Rembert place a white tube sock in his waistband, police said.
Police said Rembert ran a couple of blocks before the 1 officers caught him and allegedly found 21 clear plastic bags containing marijuana inside the sock.
They brought Rembert to headquarters to do a complete search. When they placed him in a holding cell and removed his handcuffs, police said, Rembert reached into his sock and grabbed a clear plastic bag holding cocaine. He stuffed the bag into his mouth.
Rembert began to punch and kick the officers in the cell, said police, who restrained him. He was taken to Passaic Beth Israel Hospital. He had not swallowed any of the cocaine and was released, police said.
Rembert was charged with two counts of drug possession, attempting to distribute marijuana and cocaine in a park zone and in a school zone, two counts of aggravated assault, and one count of hindering apprehension. His bail has not yet been determined.