Princeton resident charged with drugs

A 20-year-old Princeton man has been charged with second-degree narcotics offenses, including distribution of a controlled dangerous substance within a public housing facility, following a week-long investigation, according to Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo Onofri.

Ziheem Bridgeforth, who lives on Clay Street in a unit owned by the Princeton Housing Authority, was arrested Sept. 11 after Mercer County Narcotics Task Force officers carried out a search warrant at his home, the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office said.

Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office Sgt. Joe Angarone used his K9 partner, Bela, to conduct an interior “sniff” of the house. The dog gave a positive indication for the presence of drugs in Bridgeforth’s bedroom, as well as drug paraphernalia throughout the house.

During the search, officers found about 150 grams of marijuana, valued at about $1,500, in the bedroom plus $244 in cash. The money was seized as proceeds from narcotics distribution, the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office said.

Officers with the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office and the Princeton, Ewing, Hamilton and Trenton police departments – under the command of the Prosecutor’s Office’s Special Investigations Unit – assisted with the investigation.