An Atlantic County Grand Jury indicted an Egg Harbor Township man for several drug offenses including the distribution of heroin while he was working as a street cleaner in October for the Atlantic City Special Improvement District.
Fernando Martinez, 44, of the West Atlantic City section of the township, was also indicted on charges of possession with intent to distribute heroin, distribution of heroin, distribution of heroin in a public zone and possession with intent to distribute in a public zone. The individual who allegedly bought drugs from Martinez, Enrique Alvarez, 61, of
Atlantic City, was also indicted on charges of possession of heroin and possession of cocaine, possession of heroin with intent to distribute, possession of heroin with intent to distribute in a public zone and possession of heroin with intent to distribute in a school zone. The crimes are in the third-degree range except for the distribution-related offenses in a public zone, which are second-degree offenses, according to Assistant Prosecutor John Flammer who presented the case to the Grand Jury this morning.
On Oct. 11 at 11:30 a.m. members of the Atlantic City Police Department were conducting surveillance in the 3900 block of Ventnor Avenue after receiving numerous reports of suspected narcotics activity in that area. It was at that time detectives observed Martinez who was wearing a Special Improvement District uniform, doing street maintenance. As Martinez cleaned the streets detectives observed several individuals approach him, exchange money and take small white objects from the defendant. At some point during the early afternoon, Martinez was approached by
Alvarez who was on a bicycle. An unidentified male also approached Martinez. The detectives then observed Alvarez hand an undetermined amount of currency to
Martinez. Martinez then handed an envelope to Alvarez and the currency to the unidentified male. Shortly after the incident, detectives arrested Martinez at the scene.
Martinez was found in possession of 10 bags of heroin. Alvarez was apprehended several blocks away and was found in possession of 20 bags of heroin and $170 in cash. The unidentified male was never apprehended, Assistant Prosecutor Flammer said.
