By Greg Forester, Staff Writer
PRINCETON —A Monday afternoon home invasion at a residence on John Street led to the discovery of large quantities of drugs and the arrest of three individuals, according to Princeton Borough police, who said they are still on the lookout for a fourth suspect.
Police responding to a call for a home invasion and robbery at 2:40 p.m. Monday said they found a 54-year-old man tied to a refrigerator with a hood tied over his head, in the kitchen of 151 John St. Police later determined that three individuals, using a tire iron, forced their way into the home and tackled the victim, before tying him to the refrigerator.
The suspects ransacked the home, police said, and fled with an unknown amount of money.
The victim was not injured during the home invasion, according to police reports.
Police conducting the investigation said they discovered cocaine, ecstasy, marijuana, and prescription drugs in the residence and arrested 27-year-old Jesse Carter, who lived in the John Street home, and charged him with a variety of drug offenses.
He was committed to a local jail in lieu of $77,000 bail.
Later that day police searched several buildings in the area for the suspects, who were seen leaving the area in a blue truck, which was later found on Charlton Street. Patrols searching the same area later located one suspect, Eugene Smith, 37, of Jersey City, on Nassau Street, near its intersection with Charlton Street.¶
He was arrested and charged with robbery, kidnapping, burglary, criminal restraint, false imprisonment, theft, and weapons violations.
At 2 p.m. Tuesday Princeton Borough police, Mercer County Sheriff’s officers, and officers from the U.S. Marshal’s Service located a second suspect, Melinda Hartzog, 24, in Jersey City.
She was arrested and charged with complicity to commit robbery, complicity to commit burglary, and complicity to commit theft.
Police said they are still searching for Kenneth Darby, 35, of Jersey City, who has been charged with robbery, kidnapping, burglary, criminal restraint, false imprisonment, theft, and weapons violations.

