Pubdate: Sat, 11 May 2002
Source: Island Packet (SC)
Copyright: 2002, The Island Packet
Contact:  http://www.islandpacket.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1514
Author: Michael Erb
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

SCHOOL DRUG STING YIELDS NO ARRESTS

A weeklong drug sting at Hilton Head High School ended Friday morning with 
a videotape of alleged drug activity, but no arrests.

About "two dozen" students had been "observed and videotaped" smoking 
marijuana outside the school since May 3, according to a Beaufort County 
Sheriff's Office drug task force. Police at 7:30 a.m. Friday temporarily 
detained several students "on suspicious activity," but none had drugs, the 
report states.

"The video is pretty cut and dried," Sheriff P.J. Tanner said. "It's very 
obvious what they are doing."

Tanner would not comment on how the students were taped during the six days 
of surveillance. He said the videotape was given to the school's resource 
officer so school officials could meet with the students who were taped and 
their parents to work out a solution to the problem.

Hilton Head High Principal Helen Ryan said she would review the footage 
over the weekend before deciding what course of action the school would take.

Tanner said students were not arrested earlier in the week because the 
surveillance was meant to uncover the depth of a possible drug problem on 
the campus and those students who may be dealing marijuana. No illegal 
substances were found Friday. Tanner said he has no intention of taking the 
case to court based solely on the surveillance evidence.

Possession of a controlled substance by anyone 17 years old or older is a 
misdemeanor and has a maximum sentence of 30 days in jail, said Beaufort 
County Assistant Solicitor Duffie Stone. Possession of a controlled 
substance with intent to distribute by an adult is a felony offense and has 
a fine of up to $5,000, up to five years in prison or both.

Penalties for juvenile drug offenses are left to the discretion of the 
family court judge, Stone said.
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