Newark Police to Participate in the 30th National Take Back Initiative – Saturday April 25, 2026
On Saturday April 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Newark Police Department and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will provide the public the opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs. Controlled, non-controlled, and over-the-counter medications will be accepted.
Bring your medications for disposal to the Newark Police Department at 220 South Main Street in Newark. The disposal site cannot accept liquids, needles, or sharps – only pills or patches. The service is free and anonymous – no questions asked.
This event marks the DEA’s 30 th nationwide event since its inception over 10 years ago.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.
According to the DEA:
- Unused or expired prescription medications are a public safety issue, leading to accidental poisoning, overdose, and abuse.
- Pharmaceutical drugs can be just as dangerous as street drugs when taken without a prescription or a doctor’s supervision.
- The non-medical use of prescription drugs ranks second only to marijuana as the most common form of drug abuse in America.
- The majority of teenagers abusing prescription drugs get them from family and friends —and the home medicine cabinet.
- Unused prescription drugs thrown in the trash can be retrieved and abused or illegally sold. Unused drugs that are flushed down the toilet contaminate the water supply. Proper disposal of unused drugs saves lives and protects the environment.
Sharps and syringes will NOT be accepted due to the potential hazards posed by blood-borne pathogens. Vape pens and other e-cigarette devices will only be accepted after the batteries have been removed. Newark PD is not responsible for removing the batteries.
For further information, visit DEATakeBack.com. The FDA also provides information on how to properly dispose of prescription drugs. More information is available here.
Newark Police Arrest Man on Firearm and Drug Charges Following Traffic Stop
On April 15, 2026, at approximately 3:19 p.m., officers assigned to the Newark Police Department’s Special Operations Unit conducted a traffic stop in the area of Elkton Road and O’Daniel Avenue after observing a vehicle with an illegally tinted front windshield.
During the stop, officers detected the odor of raw marijuana emanating from the vehicle. Further investigation and a subsequent search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 169 grams of marijuana in the vehicle and a loaded 9mm handgun concealed within the center console.
The driver, David Sierra, 23, of Oxford, PA, was determined not to be impaired. He was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Newark Police Department headquarters for processing and arraignment.
He was charged with the following offenses:
- Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon
- Possess/Consume Marijuana Other Than Personal Use Quantity
- Safety Glass Requirement Violation
Sierra was arraigned before a Justice of the Peace Court #11 judge, issued $5,101.00 unsecured bail, and was released.
David Sierra