2 men charged with drug distribution after car stopped in Newark

NEWARK, New Jersey (WABC) -- Police say two East Orange men were arrested and charged with drug distribution after their car was stopped in Newark.

Two officers observed a blue Honda Odessey violate a traffic signal at the intersection of Springfield and Clinton avenues on Wednesday, Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said.

When the officers attempted a motor vehicle stop, police say the driver, 24-year-old Michael Ramashai, dropped a plastic bag on the passenger-side floor of the vehicle and sped off, striking the police officer with the vehicle.

The officers located the vehicle at the intersection of Carolina Avenue and Laurel Street.

Ramashai fled the vehicle, leaving his passenger, 39-year-old Cory Alston, inside the vehicle, police say.

Ramashai was immediately apprehended and both men were arrested.

The bag Ramashai allegedly dropped inside the vehicle was open and contained four plastic bags of marijuana, 62 glassine envelopes of heroin, three plastic bags of cocaine, 74 Xanax pills, 145 Oxycodone pills, four ziplock bags containing tops for vials commonly used to package cocaine and $2,639.00 in cash.

Ramashai and Alston are both charged with CDS Possession, CDS Distribution and Posssession of Drug Paraphernalia. Ramashai is further charged with Eluding and Alston with CDS Possession inside a Motor Vehicle.