Newton Police

Imitation handguns keep police busy On Saturday morning, April 14, 12:17 s.m. Newton Police Officers responded to the area behind 173 Spring Street for a reported fight behind Barristers. When they arrived, police found several people who were involved in a physical altercation. They learned during the dispute; Raul Cinto, 22 of Newton, had brandished a handgun and pointed it at another person, Eddi Sarmiento, 32 also of Newton, in a threatening manner. Further investigation resulted in the recovery of the handgun which was a Daisy CO2 operated BB gun. Cinto was charged with the following offenses: possession of a handgun without a permit, a third degree crime; possession of a handgun for unlawful purpose, a second degree drime and aggravated assault (pointing a firearm at another), a fourth degree crime. Cinto was lodged in the Sussex County Jail in default of $20,000 bail, no 10 percent optionl. On Friday, April 13, at 5:20 p.m. police responded to the High Street area to investigate a report that a juvenile was seen carrying a loaded 9mm handgun. Further investigation revealed that a juvenile was a passenger in a car and showed a handgun to another person which led to the police being notified. The juvenile was identified as a 16-year-old male resident of Newton. With the cooperation of his parent, the handgun was located at his residence and he was taken into custody. The handgun was similar in weight, action and appearance to a Glock 9mm handgun, except that it fired small plastic pellets. The orange tip of the handgun had been painted over with black paint. The juvenile was charged with juvenile delinquency under the offense of unlawful possession of a handgun. He was lodged in the Juvenile Detention Center pending action in Family Court. Newton Police Detectives arrested Jack Elston, 29, on Friday April 13, at 1p.m. for failing to notify the Newton Police Department of an address change as required under Megan’s Law. Newton Detectives regularly conduct address verification visits to the residences of sex offenders registered in Newton. While doing this on that date, Elston was found to have moved from the apartment that he had provided to the Police Department when he registered in December 2006. It was learned that he had moved on March 31 and began residing in another apartment of the rooming house located at 39 Halsted Street. He failed to notify the Newton Police Department as required under Megan’s Law. He was arrested and charged with failure to notify police of a change of address under Megan’s law and released with a summons complaint pending a court date.