Police were checking the train for people skipping out on their tickets and made three arrests.
FLORENCE -- Police officers checking for fare skipping at the Roebling River Line station arrested three riders on drug and weapons charges.
Between Friday and Monday, police were at the station watching for people getting on the New Jersey Transit line without paying their tickets. Police Capt. Brian Boldizar said it's a common practice for the police department because it makes passengers less likely to skip buying a ticket.
But for three rider, the routine checks turned into arrests.
On Friday, police were checking train passengers for valid tickets when they found a Kayla Zitnick, 21, of Florence - in addition to not having a ticket - carrying drug paraphernalia and a controlled substance, which police did not identify.
Zitnick also had a warrant for her arrest from Trenton. She was charged with drug possession and theft of service - for not buying a ticket, police said.
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Officers arrested two more people Monday.
The first, a 29-year-old Hamilton man, was detained for having two warrants for his arrest was arrested in the morning for having two warrants out of Trenton, police said.
In the afternoon, officers arrested Gregory Hames, 25, of Mount Holly, on weapon charges when officers found he was carrying two throwing knives.
He also allegedly had a quantity of drugs, which police did not identify. He's also charged with drug possession, and theft of service for not buying a train ticket.
Anna Merriman may be reached at amerriman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @anna_merriman.