The Rowan University student was also supposed to report to prison in Pennsylvania next month to serve time for assault.
GLASSBORO -- Rowan University has issued an alert regarding a student sought on weapon and drug charges.
Robert Hardiman Jr., 25, of Piscataway, was originally believed to be out of state, according to the alert, but is now believed to be in Glassboro.
Rowan University student Robert L. Hardiman Jr., 25, is sought by police on gun and drug charges. (Rowan University)A second student has been arrested in the case.
The search for Hardiman, a sophomore law and justice major at Rowan, began with a fire alarm.
Emergency personnel responded to Triad Apartments, an on-campus housing complex, for the alarm on April 1, Rowan spokesman Joe Cardona explained. Inside, police found a pot of boiling water on the stove. They also smelled marijuana and spotted bullets on a table. No one was in the apartment at the time.
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After obtaining a search warrant, police found a loaded 9mm handgun hidden above the bathroom ceiling, Cardona said.
In a bedroom they found 35 rounds of ammunition, more than 50 grams of marijuana, an undisclosed amount of prescription drugs (Oxycodone), an unidentified white powder and drug distribution paraphernalia.
They also found pay stubs and other personal items indicating Hardiman was illegally living in the unit.
His official address is in the Rowan Boulevard Apartments, according to the university.
After issuing the warrant for his arrest, university police learned that he was spotted in Glassboro Wednesday night, prompting the alert issued Thursday.
Hardiman is described as black, light complexion, 5 feet 11 inches tall, with short black hair, brown eyes and with two tattoos on his left arm (money sign and an upside down cross).
Anyone who spots Hardiman on or near campus should not approach him, officials said, but should contact Rowan University Police at 856-256-4911 or Glassboro Police by calling 9-1-1.
This isn't Hardiman's first brush with the law.
Just last month, a Pennsylvania Common Pleas Court judge sentenced him to three to 23 months in prison for a 2015 assault, according to the Daily Local News.
He assaulted a woman he was dating during an argument in a Lincoln University dorm room, according to the story. He was also sentenced to two years probation for assaulting a fellow student he believed had stolen his laptop.
In arguing for a tougher sentence, prosecutors noted that Hardiman had a previous record of assault and weapons offenses, the paper reports.
When handing down the sentence last month, the judge delayed Hardiman's prison reporting date to May 10 so that he could complete the semester at Rowan.
Hardiman had a good reputation at Rowan, where he worked in the school's student affairs office. "He was a well-regarded student on our campus," Cardona said.
Rowan officials were not made aware of his Pennsylvania case until he was charged in local case.
In the Glassboro case, Hardiman is charged with unlawful possession of a handgun, unlawful possession of a firearm on a college campus, possession of a scheduled drug, possession of marijuana over 50 grams, possession with intent to distribute, possession with intent to distribute in a school zone, unlawful entry (trespassing) and burglary. He was also charged on a summons for criminal mischief, possession of drug paraphernalia, and failure to deliver CDS.
His bail is set at $25,000 full cash.
Also charged was Emmanuel Flores, 21, of Camden, who was registered to live in the Triad unit where Hardiman was staying. Flores, a sophomore health and exercise major, was charged with unlawful possession of a handgun and unlawful possession of a firearm on a college campus. He was released after posting $10,000 cash bail.
Police noted that Flores' other roommates left the university in the fall.
Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.