POLICE BLOTTER: Princeton, West Windsor, Montgomery, Plainsboro

Princeton Township
   Angel Soto, 47, of Philadelphia, was charged with careless driving after his car struck another vehicle from behind on Route 206 south at 12:58 p.m. Feb. 2, according to police reports. The other vehicle was slowing to make a left-hand turn onto Ewing Street at the time of the crash, police said. Both Mr. Soto and the other driver refused medical treatment despite complaining of pain.
   Christine Cohen, 21, of Clover Lane, was charged with failure to observe a signal after she ran a red light at the intersection of North Harrison Street and Valley Road, causing a two-car accident, according to police reports. Ms. Cohen’s car, which was traveling south on Harrison Street, struck a car traveling west on Valley Road that had just entered the intersection, police said.
   Michele Tash, 34, of Hamilton, suffered cuts on her hands during a two-car accident that occurred on Cherry Valley Road at 7:30 a.m. Feb. 3, according to police reports. Ms. Tash’s 2008 Toyota Sienna drifted into oncoming traffic after it lost traction on the icy roadway, striking another vehicle, police said.
   Denise Hill, 49, of Brickhouse Road, was charged with theft by deception for trying to withdraw $2,000 from the PNC Bank at the Princeton Shopping Center after depositing a counterfeit check for $8,900, police said.
   Emergency services closed portions of Route 27 in Kingston after a PSE&G gas line repair caused a natural gas leak in the area of Riverside Drive East at 8:20 p.m. Saturday, according to reports. Two homes in the area were evacuated as a result of the leak, which was later attributed to a vent pipe that vents build-ups of the gas. Route 27 reopened after approximately 45 minutes, according to police.
   A Walker Drive residence sustained severe damage in a structure fire that started early Sunday morning, according to police reports. The homeowner alerted police after his fire alarms went off at around 3 a.m. due to a fire burning in the home’s upstairs study, which quickly spread and destroyed most the home’s second floor. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Princeton Borough
   Amanda Levine, 21, of Hillsborough, was charged with receiving stolen property, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, and fencing after she tried to sell stolen compact discs to Princeton Record Exchange at 3:15 p.m. Jan. 30, police said. Following the arrest, Ms. Levine was found to be in possession of heroin, hypodermic needles and other drug paraphernalia, according to police reports.
   Thomas Ogden, 18, of Linden Lane, and a 15-year-old Princeton resident were charged with shoplifting after they tried to steal various merchandise from the Princeton University Store on University Place at 4:20 p.m. Jan. 30, police said.
   William Moorehead, 45, of Kendall Park, was charged with shoplifting after he tried to steal clothing from the Princeton University Store on University Place at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 30, police said.
   Leon Davila Sipaque, 33, of Nassau Street, was charged with defiant trespass after police responded to a report of an unwanted person at 80 Nassau St. at 7 p.m. Jan. 30, police said.
   Jermaine Williams, 29, of Trenton, was charged with possession of marijuana under 50 grams and having a $217 warrant out of Ewing Township following a traffic stop at 11:35 a.m. Jan. 31, police said. It was discovered that Mr. Williams was in possession of a marijuana cigarette during the warrant arrest, according to police reports.
   Eliot Kalmbach, 23, of Downington, Pa., was charged with shoplifting after he stole food from the Wawa store on University Place at 2:45 p.m. Feb. 2, police said.
West Windsor
   A theft was reported from the offices of Eden Work Education and Resource Centers on Old Trenton Road. Between 4 p.m. Jan. 29 and 4 p.m. Feb. 2, about $1,400 and a credit card were reported stolen. No signs of forced entry to the business were evident, police said. According to staff, it appears the theft took place during working hours, police said.
   A West Windsor resident reported a theft Feb. 2 from the Princeton Junction Train Station. Between 10:45 a.m. and 9:45 p.m., a comfort bicycle was stolen from a bike rack near the Dinky Station. The victim’s helmet and lock also were missing. Total value of the stolen items was about $245.
   A township resident reported an incident of burglary that occurred between 10:30 a.m. and 9 p.m. Sunday. Someone broke a window of the victim’s 2002 Honda Civic while it was parked at the Princeton Junction Train Station. A GPS unit, valued at $300, was stolen.
   Monique Jayson, 28, of Philadelphia, was arrested for writing bad checks Sunday afternoon at Wal-Mart in the Nassau Park Retail Center, police said. She is accused of presenting a fictitious check for over $900 to buy a laptop, ink pack and cellular phone. After she was processed, she was taken to the Mercer County Correction Center. Bail was set at $60,000 with a 10 percent option. Police said that Ms. Jayson also was charged with a similar incident that took place Jan. 24, where she purchased another laptop valued at $600 using a fictitious check. She was charged with theft by deception and passing bad checks in both cases, police said.
Montgomery
   B.J. Diggs, 28, of Branchburg, was charged with possession of marijuana Saturday after police followed up on a report of suspicious activity. Police responded to the area of Parsons Court for illegal drug activity in a vehicle, where they found two vehicles in the area that were occupied. Officers made contact with both vehicles, and found they were unrelated. After an inquiry, Mr. Diggs, the driver of one of the vehicles, was found to be in possession of a small bag of marijuana and a rolled marijuana cigarette, police said. He was processed for the arrest and released pending a court date in February.
   Andrew Rich, 46, of Union, was charged with shoplifting Saturday afternoon from ShopRite Supermarket. Store Loss Prevention personnel saw Mr. Rich placing goods and merchandise in plastic shopping bags as he walked through the store, police said. He then walked out of the store without paying for the items, valued at $193.88, police said. He was detained by store personnel and turned over to police. He was arrested and transported to police headquarters, where he was charged with shoplifting, and released pending a court appearance.
   Florence Simons, 26 of Princeton, was arrested Saturday morning on an outstanding warrant out of Princeton Borough. A random license plate inquiry revealed the active warrant, resulting in a motor vehicle stop and arrest, police said. Ms. Simons posted bail and satisfied the warrant. She also was ticketed for driving while suspended and driving an uninsured motor vehicle, resulting in the impoundment of her vehicle, police said. She was released pending a court appearance.
   A 17-year-old boy from Princeton was arrested Friday morning and charged with possession of marijuana. ShopRite employees notified police that four males were suspected of shoplifting, and reported that they had just left the area driving south on Route 206. A description of the vehicle was provided to police, which led police to locate and stop it. Loose marijuana was observed in the vehicle, leading to a search of the vehicle and its occupants, police said. The arrested juvenile was found to have a small plastic bag containing marijuana in his shoe, police said. He was transported to police headquarters, processed and returned to a parent. The driver of the vehicle, also a juvenile, received a summons for violation of his provisional driver’s license and obstructed view, police said. Investigation revealed the initial report of shoplifting to be unfounded.
   Montgomery police responded to a report of a heavy smoke condition in a residence on High Ridge Road in the Skillman section at 3:10 a.m. Wednesday. The four residents including the homeowners and their children ages 9 and 13 were evacuated when police arrived. Firefighters with Montgomery Fire Companies No. 1 and No. 2 extinguished the fire, and damage was limited to the garage. The father, Jun Chu, 40, was transported to University Medical Center at Princeton by Montgomery Emergency Medical Services. He was treated for smoke inhalation and released. The occupants were allowed to return to their home. There were no other reported injuries. Later that morning, at 7:55, the Montgomery fire companies returned to the scene to extinguish hot spots in the wall and ceiling.
Plainsboro
   Richard Merrell Jr., 34, of Quail Ridge Drive, was charged with driving while intoxicated and drug offenses after a traffic stop early Sunday morning on Plainsboro Road. Mr. Merrell was stopped for speeding and several other motor vehicle violations, police said. During the stop, it was discovered that Mr. Merrell had a bag of marijuana and a glass pipe sitting on the passenger seat, police said. He also was identified as intoxicated, police said. He was charged with possession of marijuana under 50 grams, possession of drug paraphernalia, DWI, speeding, reckless driving, possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a motor vehicle, and failure to maintain lane.
   A resident of Elsie Drive, Plainsboro, was the victim of criminal mischief Sunday. Someone scratched the victim’s 2004 BMW on the driver’s-side rear door. Estimated damage is $300.
   Jenifer[ftu: cq: ] Cody, 44, of Princeton, was charged with driving while intoxicated after a traffic stop early Saturday morning on Plainsboro Road. Ms. Cody was traveling east on Plainsboro Road and made a left-hand turn through a red traffic light, police said. She then made an illegal U-turn and drove over a curbed median and continued west on Plainsboro Road, police said. After she was identified as driving while intoxicated, police said, she was charged with DWI, reckless driving, careless driving, failure to observe signal, improper U-turn, improper use of multiple beam headlights, failure to maintain lane and failure to notify change of address.
   Benjamin Shedlock, 21, of Hamilton Square, was charged with driving while intoxicated after a traffic stop early Saturday morning on southbound Route 1. Mr. Shedlock was stopped for speeding, and investigation at the scene revealed he was intoxicated, police said. He was arrested and issued summonses for DWI, refusal to submit breath test, reckless driving, speeding and failure to maintain lane.
   A resident of Plainsboro Road reported a garbage can stolen from the end of the driveway between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Wednesday. The garbage can was described as a “Midco” green can with a hinged lid and wheels, valued at $100.
   On Jan. 20 at 4 p.m., an unknown person entered a resident’s room of the retirement community at 1000 Windrows Drive and removed the victim’s cat, cat food and associated cat bowls. The cat is white, brown and black. The owner has posted a $300 reward for the missing cat. The investigation is ongoing.
   A resident of Aspen Drive was the victim of identity theft and harassment. On Jan. 25 between 6:30 and 6:50 p.m., someone gained access to the victim’s computer and e-mailed her associates and friends, saying she was mugged in London and needed $3,000 to return home, police said.
   David Foppes, 19, of Tamarron Drive, was charged with disorderly conduct after an incident at 3 p.m. Jan. 14 at the West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North. Mr. Foppes drove his blue 1993 Ford Explorer onto the sidewalk in front of the school during dismissal, police said. He then proceeded to drive in excess of the 15 mph parking lot speed toward the school lot exit, police said. Seeing a school security officer at the exit, Mr. Foppes drove his vehicle 150 yards in reverse up onto the sidewalk and drove against traffic into a marked one-way lot, returning back to the front of the school, police said. Mr. Foppes then attempted to park his vehicle among school vehicles at the rear of the building, where he was confronted by school officials, police said. After learning of the act in its entirety from students and parents, school officials summoned police to investigate the incident. On Jan. 16, Mr. Foppes was taken into custody by police. After an interview, he was charged with disorderly conduct, careless driving, reckless driving and driving on a sidewalk. He was released pending a court appearance.
   Jonathan H. Wieck, 20, of Parker Road, was charged with drug offenses in connection with a traffic stop Dec. 29. Police observed a red Mazda with a cracked front parking light lens. After police pulled behind the vehicle, it turned onto Parker Road and accelerated to a high rate of speed, police said. After police stopped and searched the vehicle, the driver, Mr. Wieck, was found to be in possession of under 50 grams of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, police said. He was arrested and transported to police headquarters, where he was charged with possession of marijuana under 50 grams, possession of drug paraphernalia, speeding, possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a motor vehicle, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, driving under the influence, failure to exhibit documents, reckless driving and uninsured motorist.