By: John Tredrea
Hopewell Township police have charged a 17-year-old male student at Hopewell Valley Central High School with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.
Lt. George Meyer said Monday the school called police at 9:30 a.m. Sept. 6, after a member of the school staff saw a group of students acting suspiciously around a car in the school parking lot.
"When they saw they were being observed by the staff member, the students quickly closed the car and left," Lt. Meyer said. "The staff member went to the car and saw a plastic bag containing what appeared to be marijuana on the floor."
The staff member notified the school’s administrators, who called police. When Patrolman William Springer arrived, the student had fled the school and the bag the staff member had seen in the car was gone.
The student returned to school later and was taken into custody. His car was impounded. Later in the day, with his family’s consent, the car was searched, and four bags, each containing a small amount of what appeared to be marijuana, were found in the vehicle, Lt. Meyer said. The total weight of the substance in the four bags was less than 50 grams, the lieutenant said.
The juvenile, who lives in Hopewell Township, was released to the custody of his family. He has been charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana, tampering with evidence, attempting to elude police and possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a motor vehicle.
The case will be heard in family court in Trenton.

