JsonObjectRequest keeps throwing null pointer exception when it's not null
<p>I'm currently trying to implement JsonObjectRequest. I'm looking for a location and trying to get the place's information. However, there is a problem with jsObjRequest (of type JsonObjectRequest)--it throws a null pointer exception even though it's not null when I check on the watchlist. I'm confused as to why. Here's the code:</p>

<pre><code>private static final HttpTransport HTTP_TRANSPORT = new NetHttpTransport();
private static final String API_KEY = "AIzaSyBlOhVQWuyQGwlAGZnDo81Aeg50UJbFrfw";

private static final String PLACES_SEARCH_URL =
        "https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/place/search/json?";
private static final String PLACES_TEXT_SEARCH_URL =
        "https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/place/search/json?";
private static final String PLACES_DETAILS_URL =
        "https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/place/details/json?";

private double _latitude;
private double _longitude;
private double _radius;

/**
 * Searching places
 * @param latitude - latitude of place
 * @params longitude - longitude of place
 * @param radius - radius of searchable area
 * //@param types - type of place to search
 * @return list of places
 * */
public PlacesList search(double latitude, double longitude, double radius/*, String types*/)
        throws Exception {

    String url = PLACES_SEARCH_URL + "key=" + API_KEY + "&amp;location=" + latitude + "," + longitude + "&amp;radius=" + radius;
    System.out.println(url);
    JsonObjectRequest jsObjRequest = new JsonObjectRequest
            (Request.Method.GET, url, null, new Response.Listener&lt;JSONObject&gt;() {
                @Override
                public void onResponse(JSONObject response) {
                    try {
                        Log.d("SEARCH", "Part 1");
                        VolleyLog.v("Response:%n %s", response.toString(4));
                    } catch (JSONException e) {
                        Log.d("SEARCH", "Part 2 - Exception called");
                        e.printStackTrace();
                    }
                    catch (Exception e)
                    {
                        System.out.println("Exception caught in JsonObjectRequest");
                    }
                }
            }, new Response.ErrorListener() {
                @Override
                public void onErrorResponse(VolleyError error) {
                    Log.d("SEARCH", "Part 3");
                    VolleyLog.e("Error: ", error.getMessage());
                }
            });
    ApplicationController.getInstance().addToRequestQueue(jsObjRequest);
    return new PlacesList();
}
</code></pre>

<p>It throws on the line that contains: <strong>ApplicationController.getInstance().addToRequestQueue(jsObjRequest);</strong></p>

<p>The following block of code is where we catch the exception:</p>

<pre><code>// Define a listener that responds to location updates
LocationListener locationListener = new LocationListener() {
    public void onLocationChanged(Location location) {
        // Called when a new location is found by the network location provider.
        Double lat = location.getLatitude();
        Double lon = location.getLongitude();
        PlacesList myPlaces = new PlacesList();
        try {
            myPlaces = finder.search(lat, lon, 10);
        } catch (Exception e) {
            System.out.println("Could not find place. Exception in search.");
        }
        if (myPlaces.getMostLikelyPlace() != null) {
            if (myPlaces.getMostLikelyPlace().getId() != null) {
                Log.d("PLACEID", myPlaces.getMostLikelyPlace().getId());
                System.out.println(myPlaces.getMostLikelyPlace().getId());
            }
        }
    }
</code></pre>

<p>The error that we catch looks like this:</p>

<p>I/System.out: <a href="https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/place/search/json?key=AIzaSyBlOhVQWuyQGwlAGZnDo81Aeg50UJbFrfw&amp;location=43.816,-111.78199833333335&amp;radius=10.0" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/place/search/json?key=AIzaSyBlOhVQWuyQGwlAGZnDo81Aeg50UJbFrfw&amp;location=43.816,-111.78199833333335&amp;radius=10.0</a></p>

<p>I/System.out: Could not find place. Exception in search.</p>

<p>Here is what the documentation says about JsonObjectRequest: <a href="https://developer.android.com/training/volley/request.html#request-json" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://developer.android.com/training/volley/request.html#request-json</a></p>

<p>I feel like I'm following the instructions on the documentation exactly. Is there any reason as to why it's throwing on that line of code?</p>