By Charley Falkenburg, Staff Writer
Four Princeton residents were arrested on a number of drug-related charges after police found more than a pound of marijuana in their car at Hilltop Park on March 23 at 12:29 p.m.
Juan Cardona, 21, Juan Vazquez-Maldonado, 20, Nieme Banks, 19, and a juvenile, 17, were charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance with the intent to distribute within 500 feet of a township park, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with the intent to distribute within 500 feet of public housing, possession of marijuana over 50 grams, manufacturing, distributing and dispensing a controlled dangerous substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Bail for Mr. Banks and Mr. Vazquez-Maldonado was set at $25,000 and bail for Mr. Cardona was set at $35,000. All three were sent to the Mercer County Detention Center in Hopewell.
The car was turned over to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office for possible forfeiture proceedings.
Township Police Sgt. Michael Cifelli said the charges were withheld from the public until now almost a month and a half after they took place due to coordination with the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office and an unnamed federal agency.
The Open Public Records Act calls for the identities of those arrested to be available to the public in most cases within 24 hours of the arrest.

