CLINTON TOWNSHIP, NJ (Hunterdon County) — Two individuals are facing multiple charges following a traffic stop last month in Clinton Township.
An officer observed an equipment violation on a silver Mercedes traveling on Interstate 78 and conducted a motor vehicle stop on Route 22 East near the Exxon Mobil station, police said.
The vehicle was operated by Catherine G. Schumacher, 40, of Milford, and had two passengers, one of whom was the registered owner. The male rear-seat passenger, later identified as Andrew M. Mullikin, 37, of Easton, Pennsylvania, allegedly attempted to provide a false identity and was asked to exit the vehicle, police said.
Schumacher allegedly corroborated the false identity. Mullikin was allegedly found to be in possession of a knife, narcotics, and drug paraphernalia, police said.
A canine officer and K-9 Tapko conducted a sniff of the vehicle’s exterior. Tapko alerted to the presence of narcotics, police said.
A subsequent probable cause search allegedly revealed controlled dangerous substances (CDS) and narcotics packaging in Schumacher’s purse. She later surrendered a syringe containing what was identified as methamphetamine, police said.
Schumacher and Mullikin were both arrested. The vehicle’s registered owner was not charged and took possession of the car, police said.
Further investigation revealed that Mullikin was wanted by the Northampton County Court in Pennsylvania and the Warren County Jail, police said.
He is accused of being a fugitive from justice and is facing charges of hindering his own apprehension, possession of a prohibited weapon, possession of CDS, possession of CDS paraphernalia, failure to make lawful disposition, and failure to wear a seatbelt.
Schumacher is accused of hindering the apprehension of another and faces additional charges including possession of CDS, maintenance of lamps, and operation of a motor vehicle while in possession of CDS.
Both individuals were processed and transported to the Hunterdon County Jail.
