Charges Include Attempted Homicide and Aggravated Assault with a Gun

July 23, 2021

TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Interim Police Director Steve E. Wilson today announced that from July 17, 2021 through July 21, 2021, the Trenton Police Department (TPD) arrested nine individuals and seized multiple shotguns and handguns with high-capacity magazines and hollow-point rounds.

• Timothy Dearolf, 63, of Trenton, was arrested on July 17, 2021 and charged with making terroristic threats, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.
  
  At around 6:00 p.m. the TPD Street Crimes Unit (SCU) and patrol units went to 322 Rusling Street in response to a report of someone coming out of that building and threatening a Best Buy employee with a gun. During the investigation, detectives detained Dearolf while patrol officers spoke to the victim. A search warrant at the property produced a Mossberg Model 500 12 GA Pump Shotgun and a Harrington and Richardson Break-Action Style 12 GA Shotgun along with a green military style ammunition can containing an assortment of ammunition.

• Caliph Stroman, 21, of Trenton, was arrested on July 17, 2021 and charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, unlawful possession of a defaced firearm, unlawful possession of a high capacity magazine, hindering apprehension, obstructing the administration of law, and resisting arrest.
  
  At around 2:00 p.m., while SCU Detectives were conducting an investigation in the area of 800 Greenwood Avenue, Stroman allegedly attempted to conceal himself while hiding a black cross-body bag that he was wearing. When detectives attempted to stop him, he fled on foot, discarded the bag and attempted to scale a fence. Stroman was unable to scale the fence and was apprehended. Officers searched the bag and found a defaced Canik Mod 2 TP9SA 9mm Semi-Automatic handgun, a high-capacity magazine, 18 rounds of ammunition, and $3,852 in cash.

• Kevin Williams, 31, and Clyde Clark, 35, both of Trenton, were arrested on July 18, 2021. Williams was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, unlawful possession of a high-capacity magazine, and unlawful possession of hollow-point ammunition. Clark was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, unlawful possession of a high-capacity magazine, aggravated assault, and criminal mischief.
  
  At around 1:00 a.m. SCU Detectives responded to the area of 613 Hoffman Avenue on a single round ShotSpotter activation. Williams and Clark were found in the area and detained. Williams allegedly had in his possession a Smith and Wesson M&P Bodyguard .380 caliber semi-automatic handgun with a high-capacity magazine loaded with hollow-point ammunition. Clark was found with a Taurus Model G2C 9mm semi-automatic handgun with a high-capacity magazine loaded with ammunition. Officers also seized $3,611.00 in cash.

• James L. Brown III, 18, and Jacquis L. McIntosh, 19, both of Trenton, were arrested July 20, 2021 and each charged with criminal attempt homicide, aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of crack cocaine, possession with intent to distribute, and possession with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school. Brown was also charged with obstructing the administration of law and resisting arrest.
  
  Brown and McIntosh were arrested in connection with a murder attempt that occurred on North Anderson and Culbertson on May 21, 2021. On that date at approximately 10:00 p.m., the Trenton Communications Bureau received a call reporting several males fighting and a male shot. The victim was transported to Capital Health Regional Hospital and survived. When Brown and McIntosh were arrested on July 20, both were found in possession of a distributable amount of crack-cocaine.

• Kaliek Merritt, 26, his brother Jefferson Merritt, 31, and Eva Rodriguez-Berrios, 29, all of Trenton, were arrested on July 21, 2021 and each charged with unlawful possession of a weapon and unlawful possession of hollow-point ammunition. Kaliek Meritt was also charged with hindering apprehension.
  
  At around 5:30 p.m., SCU detectives conducted a motor vehicle stop in the area of 623 Prospect Street for multiple violations. Kaliek Merritt, Rodriguez-Berrios and Jefferson Merritt were found to be in possession of a Ruger Model LCP .380 Auto Cal. semi-automatic handgun magazine loaded with hollow-point ammunition. All three occupants were taken into custody without incident.

Director Wilson credited SCU detectives under the direction of Captain Darren Zappley with the investigations leading to these charges.

These charges and allegations are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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