Tariq K. Ayres was set free from federal prison in November. He has again been charged with selling heroin in Trenton.
TRENTON — A city man who was released from federal prison in November for dealing heroin in the city has been arrested by city police again on charges he was operating distribution operation, Trenton police said.
Tariq K. Ayres, 37, was apprehended Thursday morning on Hermitage Avenue near Cumberland Avenue, shortly after leaving a residence, police said. Detectives had been investigating Ayres for a month and already had a warrant for his arrest on drug charges.
During the arrest, officers allegedly found 50 decks of heroin in his possession, so the detectives applied for a second warrant and later Thursday searched a residence on South Overbrook Avenue, where he allegedly kept drugs.
Tariq Ayres, 2008 photo Police found 20 bricks of heroin — which amounts to 1000 decks — and 20 grams of raw heroin and $650 cash, police said.
Also recovered was 25 grams of marijuana, 3 grams of crack cocaine and 10 Endocet pills. (Endocet is a brand name of oxycodone.)
Some of the officers who arrested Ayres know him from his prior drug dealing in Trenton, and say he was targeted because they know he was just released from prison and was allegedly moving heroin again, police said.
Ayres, who is originally from Cortland Street in East Trenton, was arrested in July 2008 with others on charges he ran a drug operation in the North Stockton Street area.
During raids at three locations in 2008, officers seized $40,000 worth of heroin, $1,700 worth of marijuana, a loaded handgun drug packaging materials.
Officers who arrested Ayres said at the time he ran into his house and was running toward a loaded .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun on the counter in his kitchen, but officers detained before he go to the weapon.
Ayres was charged in federal court with multiple drug and weapons violations, and was sentenced to eight years in prison for the 2008 offenses, federal court documents show.
Ayres was released from federal prison custody in November 2015.
When he was arrested in 2008, Ayres had been released from the state prison system a year before after serving six years, also for drug dealing in Trenton, records show.
Trenton police charged Ayres Thursday with multiple drug possession and dealing violations. The Violent Crimes Unit and Warrant Squad led by Detective Sgts. Anthony Manzo and Rolando Ramos worked the case.
Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.