A 30-year-old Princeton man was arrested last weekend after township police said they discovered him sleeping at the King George Road Exxon station and, after searching his vehicle, allegedly discovered a pipe commonly used to smoke crack cocaine.
Justin Mercer, of Princeton, has been charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, according to a township police report issued on Tuesday.
Police said that at about 11:45 p.m. last Saturday, Police Sgt. Scott Ward was dispatched to the gas station in response to a responded to a report of an individual sleeping in a vehicle at that location.
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According to police, Ward found a 1998 Toyota in the Exxon lot and made contact with the driver of the vehicle, Justin Mercer, who he said had been sleeping inside.
Ward questioned Mercer about his purpose for being in the Exxon lot and travel route prior to his arrival at the Exxon station, the police report said. Mercer gave conflicting accounts of his travel route, police said.
According to the police report, Ward — based on Mercer’s statements— requested permission to search the vehicle. The officer then allegedly discovered a pipe that is commonly used to smoke crack cocaine from under the driver’s side floor mat.
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Mercer then was placed under arrest, transported to township police headquarters, processed and released on his own recognizance, the police report said. The report added that Mercer has not been proven guilty of the charge against him.
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