Drug arrest uncovers a stash of chemicals

By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
   William Milner, 26, of 175 Johnson Ave., has been charged with various drug offenses after police were called to the residence to investigate a bottle containing an unknown liquid that his sister found underneath the couch, according to police Lt. Charles B. Edgar.
   Mr. Milner was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance and possession of drug paraphernalia in the incident, which was reported at 3:03 p.m. Oct. 24, Lt. Edgar said.
   Mr. Milner had two ecstasy pills in his possession, as well as a marijuana pipe, an empty glassine bag commonly used to hold heroin, and several needles and syringes, Lt. Edgar said.
   When police arrived, they found the bottle of liquid, Lt. Edgar said. Since the officers did not know what was in the bottle, the Lawrence Road Fire Co., the Trenton Fire Department’s hazardous materials unit and the state Department of Environmental Protection were called, he said.
   While police were at the Eggerts Crossing Village residence, Mr. Milner returned home. Police checked his backpack and discovered “numerous other bottles” as well as the drug paraphernalia in the backpack, Lt. Edgar said.
   ”We are still investigating how he got the chemicals (which included hydrochloric acid) and why he had them, especially outside of a laboratory environment,” Lt. Edgar said.
   Mr. Milner was issued summonses and released.