Police Blotter: Memorial Weekend Drug Arrest Roundup

Drug Arrests

Six people were charged with drug-related offenses during four separate incidents that took place in Lawrence Township during the Memorial Day holiday weekend, according to Lt. Charles Edgar spokesman for the township police department.

The first incident began at 7:14 p.m. on Friday, May 27, when Jonathan Mowbray, 24, of Estates Boulevard in Hamilton Township, contacted police to allege that his cell phone had been stolen by a man and a woman who had rented a room at the Sleep-E-Hollow motel in the 3000 block of Brunswick Pike (Route 1), Edgar said.

He said officers met with Mowbray and went to the motel room, where they found James Francis Zimmer, 57, of the 100 block of Garfield Avenue in Trenton, and Chenise D. Gordon, 46, of the 100 block of Girard Avenue in Trenton.

As a result of their on-scene investigation, Edgar said, officers seized quantities of drugs and arrested all three people.

Zimmer and Gordon were each charged with possession of crack cocaine, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, he said, adding that Gordon was also charged with hindering apprehension because she allegedly provided misleading information about her identity.

Mowbray, meanwhile, was taken into custody because police found he was wanted in connection with an outstanding $682 warrant from Galloway Township, Edgar said.  He said Zimmer was also wanted in connection with a $555 warrant from Lawrence and a $250 warrant from Trenton, while Gordon was wanted on at $1,500 warrant out of Trenton.

The second incident took place Saturday morning, May 28. Officer Hector Nieves was on patrol when he allegedly spotted Alton E. Miller, 61, of Mountain Church Road in Hopewell Township, driving along the 1700 block of Princeton Avenue without wearing his seat belt, Edgar said.

Nieves stopped Miller’s 2006 Nissan Sentra shortly before 9 a.m. While interviewing Miller, Nieves allegedly smelled an “odor of burnt marijuana” coming from the vehicle, Edgar said. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a small quantity of marijuana and a “roach clip” commonly used to hold marijuana cigarettes, he said.

Miller was charged with marijuana possession and possession of drug paraphernalia, he said.

The third incident involved a hit-and-run accident on Saturday, May 28.

Edgar said Ian R. Graham, 31, of Philadelphia, called police at 7:54 p.m. to report that his Dodge Durango had just been hit from behind at the intersection of Route 1 (Brunswick Pike) and Franklin Corner Road by a Hyundai Elantra that had fled the scene.

Officer Richard Laird III went out to investigate the accident. A routine background check revealed that Graham had a suspended driver’s license and was also wanted in connection with an outstanding $125 warrant from Greenbook Township, Edgar said.

While taking Graham into custody on that warrant, Laird discovered that Graham was allegedly in possession of a small quantity of marijuana, resulting in a drug possession charge being lodged against him, according to Edgar.

Graham was able to provide a license plate number for the Hyundai that he said hit his Dodge.

As part of Laird’s follow-up investigation, Laird located the Hyundai and found that it had damage on it “consistent with” hitting the Dodge, Edgar said. As a result, he said, the Hyundai’s driver – Khyasia Cauthin, 19, of the 200 block of West Hanover Street in Trenton – was charged with careless driving, leaving the scene or an accident and failing to report an accident.

The fourth incident occurred about 10:10 a.m. on Monday, May 30, in the area of Brunswick Circle Extension when Sgt. Tim Drew stopped the Toyota Avalon being driven by Fritz Mineus, 18, of the 2100 block of Princeton Pike in Lawrence, because his passenger was allegedly not wearing his seat belt, Edgar said.

During the traffic stop, the passenger – later identified as Robert Eversberg III, 18, of Valley Forge Avenue in Lawrence – was allegedly seen putting something in his pocket, Edgar said. He said Eversberg allegedly denied having anything in his pocket but police – unsure if the item might be a weapon – patted the pocket and discovered it was a bag of marijuana.    

A small amount of marijuana was also found near the driver’s seat, Edgar said. He said both Eversberg and Mineus were arrested and charged with possession of marijuana, as well as underage possession of alcohol because a two-liter soda bottle filled with beer and a liquor bottle containing beer were also discovered in the car.

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Robbery

Antonio Zimichi, 43, a native of Peru whose visa to be in the United States is expired, was arrested on Thursday, May 26, and charged with robbery, simple assault and shoplifting after he allegedly fought with employees who had caught him stealing from the Toys R Us store in the 3200 block of Brunswick Pike (Route 206), Edgar said.

Loss prevention officials spotted Zimichi in the store around 3 p.m. Recognizing him as a suspect in a prior shoplifting incident, they watched him closely and allegedly saw him “positioning” merchandise near a door, Edgar said. When Zimichi realized he was being watched, he dropped a box of Lego blocks he was carrying and ran out of the store.

Employees pursued him and caught up to him as he was getting into a vehicle that was parked outside the Red Lobster restaurant. Zimichi allegedly struggled, kicking one of the Toys R Us employees, Edgar said. He said Zimichi was finally subdued and the 23-year-old employee was not seriously hurt.

A woman who had been in the vehicle got out and fled into the nearby woods after Zimichi allegedly told her to run in Spanish, Edgar said. Officers, aided by a police dog, searched the area but were not able to locate the woman, who was described as Hispanic, in her mid-30s, about 5 feet 7 to 9 inches tall, 130 to 140 pounds, wearing blue jeans, a tan T-shirt and a baseball cap with her hair worn in a ponytail.

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Weapon Possession

A 15-year-old student at Lawrence High School was arrested shortly before 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 25, and charged with unlawful possession of a weapon after a teacher spotted him with a can of pepper spray, Edgar said, noting that such chemical sprays are prohibited on school grounds. Officer Andres Mejia made the arrest.

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Dog Bite

A 9-year-old Lawrence Township boy required three stitches to close a wound he suffered when he was bitten in the chest by a bit pull belonging to the sister of a friend on Saturday, May 28, Edgar said. He said the boy – who was visiting the friend’s house when the bite occurred – was treated at Capital Health System’s Mercer hospital in Trenton. The dog’s owner lives in Trenton. Animal control officials from Lawrence and Trenton were working together to conduct a follow-up investigation and make sure the animal was up-to-date on all its required vaccinations, Edgar said.

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Theft

A “drive cam recorder” – a device used to document the driving habits of the vehicle’s operator – was stolen from a 2009 Chrysler while it was parked outside Quaker Bridge Mall in the 3300 block of Brunswick Pike (Route 1) on Wednesday, May 25, Edgar said. The vehicle is owned by Flyte Tyme Worldwide Transportation, a limousine service, he said.

The driver called police at 9:35 a.m. after returning to the vehicle and finding that the front passenger’s side door had been pried open, possibly with a metal hanger that was found on the ground nearby, Edgar said, noting that damage to the door was estimated at about $100. Officer Shaun Sexton is investigating the crime.

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Theft

Sgt. Joseph Amodio was sent to Coleman Buick Pontiac GMC on Renaissance Boulevard at 3:19 p.m. on Wednesday, May 25, after the auto dealership’s management called police to report that a customer had stopped payment on a check. The 34-year-old Trenton woman had submitted the check as payment for $2,400 worth of work she had had done to her 2005 Cadillac, Edgar said. He said the dealership was advised of how to sign a complaint for theft against the woman.

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Shoplifting

At 6:12 p.m. on Wednesday, May 25, management of the ShopRite at Mercer Mall in the 3000 block of Brunswick Pike (Route 1) called police to report that a 56-year-old Ewing Township man had been stopped while pushing a shopping cart full of items out of the supermarket. The man allegedly claimed he had a receipt for the items, but he did not produce the receipt and instead left the supermarket, Edgar said. He said Officer Bryce Dowers responded to the ShopRite and advised management how to sign a complaint for shoplifting against the man.

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Fraud

A 58-year-old woman from Yardley, Pa., stopped at Lawrence Township police headquarters just after noon on Thursday, May 26, to report that her credit card account information had been used by someone to fraudulently obtain more than $500 worth of gift cards from the Macy’s department store and Toys R Us store in Lawrence, Edgar said. He said Officer Shaun Sexton was investigating.

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 Shoplifting

Fifteen bras worth $780 were stolen from the Victoria’s Secret store at Quaker Bridge Mall shortly before 2 p.m. on Thursday, May 26. Police believe the bras were stolen by two women and a man who left the store quickly – carrying large bags – after they were approached by employees, Edgar said. He said the employees recognized the three as suspects in a prior shoplifting.

The women were both white and between 35 and 40 years old. One was described as being 5 feet 5 or 6 inches tall and 150 to 160 pounds, while the other was 5 feet 2 to 4 inches tall and 140 to 150 pounds. The man was described as being 40 to 45 years old, about 5 feet 9 inches tall and 180 pounds. Sgt. Chris Longo is investigating.

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Shoplifting

Galelyn Marshall, 29, of the 700 block of Liberty Street in Trenton, and Jonnee A. Pack, 22, of the 700 block of Princeton Avenue in Trenton, were arrested about 4:15 p.m. on Thursday, May 26, after they allegedly stole merchandise from the Macy’s store at Quaker Bridge Mall, Edgar said.

He said Marshall allegedly concealed two pairs of satin shorts – worth $40 – in her purse, while Pack allegedly hid $104 worth of merchandise – a pair of boxer shorts, a crew-neck shirt and a pair of pants – in a backpack she was carrying. The two were stopped and detained after they allegedly left the store without paying, he said.

Both were charged with shoplifting by Sgt. Chris Longo, Edgar said. He said Marshall was also found to be wanted in connection with an outstanding warrant from Trenton, while Pack was wanted on a warrant issued in Bucks County, Pa.

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Shoplifting

A 17-year-old girl from Princeton was arrested about 6:45 p.m. on Thursday, May 26, after she allegedly stole two shirts and a pair of tights worth a total of $95 from the Lord & Taylor department store at Quaker Bridge Mall, Edgar said.

The girl was allegedly seen entering a fitting room carrying six items. When she exited the fitting room a few minutes later, Edgar said, she was empty-handed. Store employees checked the fitting room and found three items that had been left behind by the girl. The girl was stopped after she exited the store and the three stolen items were allegedly found in a backpack she was carrying, Edgar said. The girl was charged with shoplifting by Sgt. Chris Longo.

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Shoplifting

Jared Goodman, 24, of Forest Grove, Pa. was arrested about 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 26, after he allegedly stole a Godiva chocolate bar worth $3.95 from the Lord & Taylor store at Quaker Bridge Mall, Edgar said.

Edgar said Goodman allegedly concealed the candy bar in the back pocket of his pants and left the store without paying. He was stopped by store loss prevention officials and later charged with shoplifting by Sgt. Chris Longo.  

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Shoplifting

Narsica Paredes, 26, and Beatriz Cadmilema, 19, both of the Windsor Castle apartment complex in East Windsor, were arrested shortly before 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 26, after they allegedly stole $53 worth of merchandise from the Sears department store at Quaker Bridge Mall, Edgar said.

The women were allegedly seen in the store’s jewelry section passing three bracelets back and forth between themselves. They then allegedly put the bracelets on their wrists and walked out of the store without paying for them, Edgar said. After they were stopped and detained by store loss prevention officers, a stolen compact mirror was allegedly found concealed in a baby stroller one of the women was pushing, he said.

Both were charged with shoplifting by Sgt. Chris Longo.

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Theft

At 6:20 p.m. on Thursday, May 26, Officer Robert Wagner was sent to Gold’s Gym in the 4100 block of Quakerbridge Road to investigate the theft of a backpack from an unsecured locker. The backpack contained various personal items belonging to a 24-year-old man from Hamilton, Edgar said.

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Criminal Mischief

A 41-year-old resident of Fountayne Lane called police at 7:07 p.m. on Thursday, May 26, to report that someone had thrown a rock through one of his basement windows, leaving a hole about 7-inches wide and causing about $300 damage.

The victim told police he heard a loud noise between 1 and 2 a.m. He had looked around but he did not seen anything amiss at the time. It wasn’t until later in the day that he found the broken window. Officer Robert Wagner was assigned to investigate.

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Theft

A 27-year-old woman called police at 1:31 p.m. on Friday, May 27, to report that prescription medication had been stolen from her purse inside her apartment at the Meadow Woods complex in the 400 block of Lawrence Road (Route 206). The woman told police she believes the drugs were stolen between noon and 4 p.m. on May 25 by “an acquaintance,” Edgar said, noting that Officer Daniel Gladney was investigating.

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Theft

At 6:23 p.m. on Friday, May 27, a 54-year-old resident of Featherbed Court called police to report that a silver serving set valued at about $4,200 was missing from her home, Edgar said. The woman told Officer Erini Papafilipakis she believes the set was stolen between April 2 and May 27, he said, adding that the investigation is continuing.

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Recovered Property

A resident of Hawk Road called police at 2:26 p.m. on Sunday, May 29, to report that a laptop computer and a wallet had been left on the front porch of his home. The man told police that he had been away on business and that a friend who was house-sitting for him found the items. Thinking the computer and wallet might belong to a cable television technician who had recently done work at the house, the friend put the items inside the home for safekeeping, Edgar said.

When the homeowner returned from his trip, he found the items in his house. He called police after realizing the computer and wallet were not the property of the TV technician. Edgar said police quickly determined that the items were, in fact, some of the property that had been . About $100 was taken from the wallet before the thief discarded it and the computer on the porch of the Hawk Road home, he said.

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Shoplifting

Taylor Renee Hobbs, 19, of the 200 block of Pearl Street in Trenton was arrested shortly before 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 29, after she allegedly stole $136 worth of merchandise – a bathing suit, necklace and electric razor – from the Sears store at Quaker Bridge Mall, Edgar said. Hobbs, a Sears employee, allegedly hid the items in a Sears shopping bag while she was in a stock room, he said. She was stopped by store loss prevention officials after she left the store without paying and was charged with shoplifting by Officer Richard Laird III, he said.

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Shoplifting

An 11-year-old Trenton girl was arrested about 5:15 p.m. on Monday, May 30, after she allegedly stole $10 worth of decorative rubber-band bracelets from the J.C. Penney store at Quaker Bridge Mall, Edgar said. He said the girl allegedly hid the items in her pocket and then left the store without paying. She was stopped by store loss prevention officials and later charged with shoplifting by Officer Richard Laird III.

Anyone with information about any of the above crimes is asked to call Lawrence Township police at (609) 896-1111.

 A copy of Lawrence Township's police dispatch log for Wednesday, May 25, through Tuesday, May 31, 2011, can be viewed from the PDF box above. This log lists all significant calls for service and incidents for which officers filed a written report. Routine administrative assignments are omitted. Some data has been redacted to protect the identity of crime victims.