Princeton Police Blotter: Sexual Assault at Party on July 4
An 18 year-old Princeton resident was sexually assaulted while she was attending at a party on the first block of Meetinghouse Court in the wee hours of July 4. The investigation is ongoing and remains open, police said. There is no connection between the assault and the sexual assault that took place a week ago on Birch Avenue, police said.
A Leigh Avenue resident who was charged with sexually assaulting a Birch Avenue woman last week has been charged with burglary and harassment in a second case. Pedro Arias-Santiago, 26, allegedly entered a residence on the 200 block of Birch Avenue on June 15. It is believed that he gained access to the home through an unlocked door. The victim, a 19-year-old Illinois resident who was staying at the home on Birch Avenue, heard Arias-Santiago in the residence and when confronted, Arias-Santiago left the residence. The victim was not sexually assaulted in this case. The woman filed the report after seeing the report on the sexual assault and recognizing Arias-Santiago from his mugshot. Arias-Santiago has been charged with burglary and harassment in the second case. Bail was set at $50,000 with a 10 percent option. Arias-Santiago is currently lodged in the Mercer County Correctional Center on the original charges in the sexual assault.
Police responded to a disturbance on the first block of Redding Circle and discovered a person had been assaulted. Zahraa Alkhafaji, 18, was arrested and charged with possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and simple assault. The investigation revealed Alkhafaji used a glass juice bottle to cause minor injury during a physical altercation.
During a motor vehicle stop for failing to observe a traffic signal just after 12:30 p.m. on July 1, Kyle Johnson, 30, of New Brunswick was found to have two outstanding warrants with a total bail of $1000. He was placed under arrest and transported to police headquarters, where he was released after bail was posted.
A Witherspoon Street resident went to the police station to pick up recovered found property on the morning of July 1, and allegedly was found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia. Efren Garcia, 43, was arrested, processed and released with a summons and a pending court date.
During a motor vehicle stop at 4:41 a.m. on July 1 for multiple motor vehicle violations, including driving with no headlights, Kristin Sigurdson, 38, of Vancouver, British Columbia, was placed under arrest for DWI. He was transported to police headquarters, where he was processed and released with summonses and a pending court date.
Late July 2, a Princeton resident was arrested on Nassau Street and charged with possession of marijuana. Trevor Hullfis, 27, was pulled over for driving without headlights. Hullfish allegedly was in possession of marijuana under 50 grams. He was placed under arrest and transported to police headquarters, where he was processed, and later released with summonses and a court date.
Two young adults visiting Princeton were allegedly found to be in possession of heroin after a motor vehicle stop for failure to keep right just after 4 p.m. on July 2 on Witherspoon Street. Larissa Sapudar, 23, of Yardville and Quinton Agron, 25 of Columbus were charged with possession of a controlled and dangerous substance, possession of a controlled and dangerous substance with intent to distribute, possession of controlled and dangerous substance with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Both were placed under arrest, brought to police headquarters for processing, and later released with summonses and a court date.
During a motor vehicle stop on Stockton Street for failure to signal a turn, a Flemington resident allegedly was found to be in possession of marijuana under 50 grams and drug paraphernalia. Trevor Ciccarino, 23, was placed under arrest and transported to police headquarters, where he was processed and released with summonses and a pending court date.
An unknown individual damaged a vehicle that was parked on the first block of Birch Avenue. The front driver side tire was punctured with an unknown object.
Subsequent to a motor vehicle stop on at 12:23 a.m. on Stockton Street for failure to use headlights when required as well as other violations, a Pennington resident was placed under arrest for DWI. Lauren Swords, 21, was transported to police headquarters where she was processed and later released with summonses and a pending court date.
During to a motor vehicle stop for maintenance of lamps, a Florida man was found to have two active warrants for his arrest with a total bail of $2,622 out of New Brunswick. Lionel Stokes, 54, was placed under arrest and transported to police headquarters, where he was processed and later released to the New Brunswick Police Department.
At about 5:30 p.m. on July 1, an unknown individual stole a bottle of wine from Varsity Liquors at 234 Nassau Street, police said.
During a motor vehicle stop for failure to wear a seat belt, a Trenton resident was found to have two active warrants for his arrest with a total bail of $5,954 out of Montgomery Township. Anthony McNeil, 47, was placed under arrest and transported to headquarters, where he was processed and later turned over to the Montgomery Township Police Department.
On June 18 or June 19, someone stole a Fender Stratocaster guitar from foyer of a residence on Palmer Square West. The guitar was valued at $360.77, police said.
Between June 20 and June 27, 15 printed vinyl signs were stolen from various public locations around town. The signs were valued at $750, police said.
Krystal Knapp is the founding editor of Planet Princeton. Follow her on Twitter @krystalknapp. She can be reached via email at editor AT planetprinceton.com. Send all letters to the editor and press releases to that email address.