Seven adults and three juveniles have been arrested in an Orange housing project apartment for narcotics trafficking and selling cocaine near an elementary school, authorities reported yesterday.

The suspects were nabbed when police and members of the Essex County Sheriff Department's Bureau of Narcotics raided a fourth-floor apartment at the Father Rasi Homes on Mechanic Street, according to Police Director Charles Cobbertt.

Cobbertt identified the suspects, all jailed pending grand jury action, as Orange residents Mary Huntley, 47, who lived in the raided apartment; Robert Holloway, 21, Monica Watts, 18, and Charles Jones, 20, all of Ogden Street; Eric Steel, 29, of South Essex Avenue and Tarika Graves, 18, of Mechanic Street.

Also, Maurice Holloway, 19, of North Harrison Street in East Orange was arrested, as were two 17-year-old males and a 16-year-old female, not identified because of their ages.

Police also confiscated 32 vials of cocaine and $552. The raid, the result of a three-week investigation by Police Detectives Todd Bertolini and Michael Gannon took place 7 p.m. Thursday.

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“Reach Back with One Hand and Pull Someone Else Up With You.”

– Charles C. Cobbertt

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