ROBBINSVILLE: POLICE BEAT

   Police are warning residents of a scam by mail. At least one township resident has received a fraudulent letter from Lead Insurance Company saying the recipient has won a shopper’s lottery, with a $4,700 check that appears to be from Wachovia Bank enclosed, according to investigating officer Detective John Palasits.
   The letter says to contact a claim agent to wire money to collect the prize, but Detective Palasits said the letter is from a “fraudulent company using fraudulent checks.” Residents are advised to not respond to the letter, but rather to shred it or throw it away.

* * *

   Eric Haas, 30, of Trenton, was charged March 10 with possession of a controlled dangerous substance (heroin) and possession of drug paraphernalia. At the same time, James Lyons, 48, also of Trenton, was charged with providing false information to police.
   Police said they stopped Mr. Haas at 11:46 a.m. on I-195 for making an unsafe lane change. Once stopped, Mr. Haas admitted to using heroin, police reported, and a search of the vehicle found suspected heroin and associated paraphernalia.
   Mr. Lyons, Mr. Haas’ passenger, gave police a false name, police said, and was found to have three active criminal Trenton warrants totaling $10,000. Mr. Lyons was turned over to Trenton police in lieu of bail, and Mr. Haas was released pending a court appearance.

* * *

   Olivia Cie Philp, 23, of Hamilton, and Walter Kimborough, 23, of Ewing, were charged March 10 with possession of fewer than 50 grams of marijuana. Ms. Philp also was charged with unspecified traffic citations.
   Police said they stopped the two at 1:26 p.m. on Route 130 after seeing Ms. Philp drive through a red light. Once stopped, police reported smelling marijuana, and said the two occupants first said they had smoked the drug in the car the day earlier.
   But, after consenting to have the vehicle searched, police said, Ms. Philp said the two had smoked prior to the stop and that she had marijuana in her jacket. Mr. Kimborough also admitted to have some in his shoes, where police found three small bags, according to police.

* * *

   Charles Blackshear, 50, of Trenton, was charged March 12 with possession of fewer than 50 grams of marijuana. Police said they stopped Mr. Blackshear at 5:22 a.m. on Route 130 for traveling into a construction lane, though he did not collide with anything. Once stopped, police smelled marijuana, and a search of the vehicle found four marijuana cigarettes, police reported.