Trenton Man Among 2 Facing Weapons and Drug Charges: State Police

MERCER COUNTY, NJ – New Jersey State Police have charged two men with various drug and weapon offenses, the Attorney General’s office announced on Tuesday.

Javar Kidd, 21, of Trenton and Henry Kidd, 40, of Hayesville, AL were charged with drug and weapon offenses, and 10 guns, high-capacity magazines, drugs, paraphernalia, and more than $2,100 cash were seized, police said.

During the month-long investigation, detectives with the Crime Suppression Central Unit discovered that Henry Kidd and Javar Kidd were obtaining guns in South Carolina from straw purchasers and then selling them in the Trenton area.

A straw purchase is when a person buys a gun on behalf of someone who is prohibited by law from owning or possessing a firearm or for someone who does not want their name associated with the weapon.

On Saturday, October 31, investigators were notified that Henry and Javar were traveling from South Carolina to Trenton in a Chevrolet Equinox. Detectives with the Crime Suppression Central Unit, along with members of the Trenton Police Department and Hamilton Township Police Department, located the Chevrolet at a residence on Ewing Street in Trenton. According to the police, as detectives approached, Javar attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended immediately. Henry Kidd was arrested without incident.

Police said detectives obtained and executed a search warrant on the Chevrolet, which resulted in the seizure of a .45 caliber handgun, a .40 caliber handgun, a .380 caliber handgun, five 9mm handguns, 11 high-capacity magazines, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and more than $2,100 cash. During the investigation, police said detectives previously seized a .40 caliber handgun, and a 9mm handgun.

Henry and Javar were charged with promotion of organized street crime, unlawful sale/transfer of firearms, unlawful possession of handguns, unlawful possession of high-capacity magazines, and certain persons not to possess weapons.

Javar was also charged with resisting arrest. Both defendants were lodged at the Mercer County Correction Center and were ordered detained pending trial at detention hearings held last week.

“Stopping the flow of illegal guns into New Jersey is a top priority for all of us in New Jersey law enforcement,” said Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal.

“Because four out of five crime guns recovered in New Jersey originate from states that do not have the same strong firearms laws as we do, we need to do all we can to shut down this iron pipeline. And each illegally trafficked gun that we prevent from reaching our streets represents a life or multiple lives saved, including law enforcement lives. Today’s announcement is a reflection of those ongoing efforts,” he said.

“Many of the crime guns seized in New Jersey are purchased out of state, which are then sold to individuals prohibited from legally owning weapons. Henry and Javar Kidd were straw purchasers who knowingly put guns into the hands of violent criminals,” said Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police.

“We will continue to dismantle the trafficking supply lines by continuing to work with our partners to aggressively target buyers and sellers who seek to profit from the devastation caused by gun violence.”

Trenton Police Director Sheilah A. Coley said Trenton, was “all too familiar with the devastation that occurs when guns end up in the hands of those with no regard for human life.”

“There’s no doubt that the hard work of the detectives and officers in this case will save lives. I hope these arrests send a clear message that Trenton is not a safe place to peddle illegally acquired firearms from out of state,” she said.

The case is being prosecuted by the Division of Criminal Justice.

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