Newark parolee charged with ramming Morristown police cars, weapons offenses and heroin possession

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A Newark man on parole for a manslaughter conviction has been arrested in New York State after ramming Morristown police cars as he fled New Jersey, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office said on Monday.

Terrell Hyman. Photo: NJ Department of Corrections
Terrel Hyman. Photo: NJ Department of Corrections

Terrel Hyman (a.k.a. “Rel” and “Cuddy”), 32, was arrested on Friday, Dec. 19, 2014, at a residence in Rockland County, NY, one day after fleeing New Jersey authorities investigating an alleged heroin ring in Morris and Essex counties, according to a statement from Prosecutor Fredric Knapp and Morristown Police Chief Pete Demnitz.

In Morris County, the suspect had “created a tense scene by fleeing at a high rate of speed in a red 1999 Cadillac Seville,” the lawmen said.

During that escape, Hyman “intentionally rammed a police vehicle carrying two uniformed Morristown officers before striking a second vehicle driven by a plain clothed officer.”

No injuries to the officers were reported.

The Cadillac was found abandoned near several commercial buildings in Morristown, the authorities said.

Hyman was on supervised parole for a 2009 1st degree manslaughter conviction in Essex County.  A search of his home on 13th Street in Newark found a loaded handgun and  several hundred bags of heroin packaged for sale, authorities said.

He was charged with eluding arrest, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, weapon possession, parole violations and assorted drug charges.

Hyman is being held in New York while, awaiting extradition to New Jersey. Superior Court Judge Robert J. Gilson  set bail at $250,000, cash only.

The suspect was imprisoned in July 2009 after being convicted for reckless manslaughter, aggravated assault and weapons and drug charges stemming from a June 2006 arrest. He was released on parole in September 2012, according to state records.

As part of the recent drug probe, authorities also arrested Morristown resident Lakema Holified, 32,who was charged with heroin and cocaine possession with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school, and hindering arrest.

Holifield was remanded to the Morris County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bail,  set by Morristown Municipal Judge Michael J. Noonan.

The full statement follows.

FROM THE MORRIS COUNTY PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE:

Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp and Morristown Police Chief Peter Demnitz announce the arrest of Terrel Hyman (AKA “Rel” and “Cuddy”), 32 years old, of Newark, New Jersey on a variety of charges including 2nd degree Eluding, 4th degree Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer, 2nd degree Aggravated Assault, 2nd degree Possession of Handgun while Committing a Drug Offense, 2nd degree Certain Persons not to Possess Weapons, 3rd degree Possession with Intent to Distribute CDS heroin, and 3rd degree Possession of CDS heroin.

At the time of his arrest, Hyman was on parole supervision for a 2009 1st degree manslaughter conviction out of Essex County.

An investigation into a multi-county heroin distribution network culminated on Thursday December 18, 2014 when authorities executed several search warrants in Morris and Essex counties. While executing a search warrant in Morris County, Hyman allegedly denied the commands of police officers and created a tense scene by fleeing at a high rate of speed in a red 1999 Cadillac Seville.

In the course of fleeing, Hyman is further alleged to have intentionally rammed a police vehicle carrying two uniformed Morristown officers before striking a second vehicle driven by a plain clothed officer. The vehicle operated by Hyman was found abandoned in the vicinity of several commercial buildings in Morristown.

A search warrant was subsequently executed at Hyman’s residence of 13th Street in Newark, where officers located several hundred bags of heroin packaged for street level distribution and a loaded handgun.

Within 24 hours, Morris County authorities were able to determine that Hyman fled the State and was inside a residence in Rockland County, New York. With the assistance of the Haverstraw Police Department, Rockland County Sheriff’s Office, Rockland County District Attorney’s Office and a multi-agency tactical team, officials were able to take Hyman into custody on Friday December 19, 2014.

Hyman is currently incarcerated in New York while awaiting extradition back to New Jersey on these charges, as well as a parole violation. Bail was set by the Hon. Robert J. Gilson, J.S.C. at $250,000, cash only, with a bail source hearing requirement.

Also arrested during the course of the investigation was Lakema Holified of Morristown, 32, who was charged with 2nd and 3rd degree offenses for Possession with Intent to Distribute CDS heroin and cocaine, within 500 feet of Public Property, Possession with Intent to Distribute CDS within 1000 feet of a school, Possession with Intent to Distribute CDS, Possession of CDS, and Hindering.

The Honorable Michael J. Noonan, J.M.C. set bail for Holifield at $250,000 with no 10 percent with a bail source hearing requirement. Holifield was unable to post bail and remanded to the Morris County Correctional Facility.

“The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force, along with our local police departments and other law enforcement partners will continue to aggressively pursue those individuals who import heroin into our community, contributing to the epidemic that is gripping our State,” Prosecutor Knapp stated.

“This investigation demonstrates the coordinated efforts that will be utilized to bring these offenders to justice” he added. “I wish to acknowledge the work of the Morristown Police Department for the continuing partnership with this Office to protect the residents of Morris County.”

The investigation is active and ongoing. No other information is being released at this time.

Anyone with information relating to these charges is urged to contact the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Unit at 973-285-6300.

Prosecutor Knapp would like to thank the Morristown Bureau of Police, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the Newark Police Department, the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, the Haverstraw Police Department, the Rockland County Sheriff’s Office, the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force under the leadership of Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Bradford Seabury and Captain Michael Rice.

A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until he or she has been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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