A man was arrested with two guns and a large amount of drugs thanks to an alert resident, Atlantic City police said.
Someone stopped Officers Paul Dooner and Branden Vongsasombath at about 3:30 p.m., telling them of a potential burglary in progress of a property in the 2500 block of Pacific Avenue, Sgt. Kevin Fair said.
The officers investigated and found Emery Chapman inside the store.
He was ordered to leave and tried fleeing, according to the report.
Officer Irwin Sanchez took him into custody.
Inside the store, police found 610 bags of heroin, materials used to package narcotics and two loaded handguns — including one that had been reported stolen from Bridgeton.
When he was caught, Chapman has $2,150 in cash, believed to be from drug sales.
He was also wanted on several warrants, Fair said.
Chapman, 38, who gave a Philadelphia address, was charged with several drug crimes, including possession within a school zone. He was additionally charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon while committing a drug offense, receiving stolen property, criminal trespass, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.
Atlantic City Police Chief Henry White credited community partnership in helping with this arrest and the arrest of an armed man earlier in the day
“The engagement and cooperation by the community with our officers has greatly improved over the years,” he said. “They are a key to the success of the Police Department and the city in combating gun violence and the distribution of illegal narcotics. This is a team effort and we would not be as successful if it wasn’t for the citizens of this community alerting us to individuals that are attempting to bring us down.”
He asked for the community to continue to stay involved.
Anyone with information about criminal activity is asked to call Atlantic City police at 609-347-5766 or the Special Investigations Section at 609-347-5858. Information may also be texted anonymously to tip411 (847411), beginning the text with ACPD.
