Drugs, loaded gun seized at Parsippany hotel, cops say

PARSIPPANY Two men are facing several drug-related charges after heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, marijuana, and a loaded gun were found in their hotel room, Parsippany police said.

The Parsippany Police Department’s Narcotics Unit learned that James Howell, 44, of Easton, PA, and Richard Burwell, 46, of East Orange, were actively selling narcotics from multiple rooms at the Red Roof Inn on Route 46, Patrolman Brian Conover said.

At about 11:30 a.m. Monday, Parsippany officers from the Narcotics Unit and Rifle Team along with members of the Morris County K-9 Unit executed a search warrant at the hotel and arrested Howell and Burwell without incident, Conover said.

Searching the pair’s room, police found a Taurus .44 Magnum Revolver loaded with six hollow point bullets, 17 small bags containing suspected marijuana, 47 glassine folds containing suspected heroin, 44 pills of suspected MDMA, a bag containing 16 grams of suspected marijuana, 16 grams of suspected cocaine, a bag containing eight grams of suspected MDMA, and weighing and packaging equipment commonly used in the packaging and distribution of illicit drugs, Conover said.

The street value of the drugs in the room was estimated to be between $5,000 and $8,000, Conover said.

Howell and Burwell were both charged with possession and intent to distribute heroin, possession and intent to distribute cocaine, possession and intent to distribute MDMA, possession and intent to distribute marijuana, possession of hollow point bullets, possession of a firearm while committing certain drug crimes, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a firearm by certain persons prevented from having one.

Howell and Burell were lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility in default of $50,000 bail with no 10 percent option.

Parsippany Chief Paul Philipps and Parsippany Narcotics Unit Supervisor Det. Sgt. Lesiak thanked the detectives and officers who assisted in the investigation.

Staff Writer Michael Izzo: 973-428-6636; mizzo@GannettNJ.com