Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 30-year-old DUSHAWN KEARNEY-HILLARD of Wallington, NJ on charges of possession with the intent to distribute narcotics, drug distribution, and possession of a weapon, as well as previous charges for which KEARNEY-HILLARD was wanted as a fugitive. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck and the Wallington Police Department under the direction of Officer-in Charge Captain Eric Kluska.
In June 2024, Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotic Task Force received information about suspected narcotics distribution at a private residence in Wallington, NJ. A weeks-long investigation was initiated by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotic Task Force and the Wallington Police Department into the suspected narcotics activity.
On Tuesday, July 2, 2024, a search warrant was executed at the residence of DUSHAWN-KEARNEY HILLARD in Wallington, NJ by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force and the Wallington Police Department. During the course of the search warrant, Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office detectives recovered various narcotics evidence and a firearm.
As a result of the investigation, on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, DUSHAWN KEARNEY-HILLARD was arrested without incident in Wallington, NJ and charged with second-degree possession of a firearm, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4.1a; third-degree possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(3); and third-degree distribution of Oxycodone, N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(5).
Additionally, detectives determined that DUSHAWN KEARNEY-HILLARD was wanted as a fugitive for an outstanding arrest warrant stemming from an incident that occurred at a business on Main Avenue in Wallington, NJ on March 23, 2024. In that case, KEARNEY-HILLARD was charged on March 26, 2024, by the Wallington Police Department with third-degree possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4d; third-degree terroristic threats, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-3a; and third-degree aggravated assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b.
Subsequent to this arrest and the charges filed in both criminal cases, DUSHAWN-KEARNEY HILLARD was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending a first appearance in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack, NJ.
Prosecutor Musella states that the charges are merely accusations, and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Prosecutor Musella would like to thank the the Wallington Police Department for their assistance in this investigation, as well as the Elmwood Park and Garfield Police Departments which both participate in the Bergen County Narcotic Task Force.