PHS Student Is Arrested For Making Gang Threats

Candace Braun

A 16-year-old Princeton High School student was arrested last week after targeting a Princeton Day School student with gang-related threats. The accused is a juvenile and therefore his name is being withheld by police.

The incident occurred on Friday, January 21, after a basketball game between the two schools. The accused had allegedly threatened the PDS player and attempted to engage in a fight with him following the game.

The Princeton student confronted the PDS player in the parking lot after the game, flashing gang signs, and claiming to be a member of the nationally-known "Bloods" gang.

Borough Police arrested the youth on Tuesday, January 25, after being made aware of the incident by PHS officials. The accused was placed in the Mercer County Youth Detention Center in Ewing.

Lt. Dennis McManimon of the Borough Police said he could not provide further information on the youth or his current status because he is a juvenile.

Resource Officers

Continuing to look for ways to combat the recent string of gang-related incidents in Princeton, the Princeton Regional School Board is examining the possibility of adding resource officers in the schools to monitor student activity.

It was previously reported that the district was looking to hire one resource officer for the high school and one for John Witherspoon Middle School. However, at last week's Board meeting, Board Vice President Charlotte Bialek announced that the district is examining the possibility of hiring two resource officers for the high school, and one security monitor for the middle school. The Board has estimated that the cost for the PHS officers would be approximately $160,000, but has not disclosed the potential cost of a security monitor.

The salaries of these officers would be paid for either through federal funding that was made available to districts four years ago, or through voter's approval by way of a second question on the budget vote in April.

Princeton and Hopewell Valley are the only Mercer County school districts without resource officers.