Pubdate: Tue, 14 Mar 2006
Source: Selma Times-Journal, The (AL)
Copyright: 2006 Selma Newspapers Inc.
Contact:  http://www.selmatimesjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1389
Author: Ray Holley

POLICE SEIZE DRUGS AT SCHOOLS

A Recent Crackdown On Drugs By The Selma Police Department Has Led To 
Area Schools, Officials Said.

We will be stepping up our narcotics division  throughout the city," 
said Selma Police Chief Jimmy  Martin of the recent series of 
drug-related  investigations and busts.

A couple of those investigations are underway at both  Selma High 
School and Meadowview Christian.

On Wednesday, March 8, according to law enforcement  officials, a 
substance appearing to be marijuana was  confiscated from Selma High 
School's campus and seven  juveniles are reportedly a part of the 
investigation.  No arrests have been made at this time in connection 
with the confiscated marijuana, as the investigation is  ongoing.

Lynn Henderson, public relations supervisor for Selma  City Schools, 
said the school has not had previous  problems with drugs, but if 
it's discovered students  are involved, the punishment will depend on 
the severity of the offense.

This is a Class 3 offense and he or she could be  suspended or be 
recommended for expulsion with this  type of offense," she said.

At Meadowview, police confiscated a white powdery  substance that 
appears to be cocaine, officials said.  It has been sent to the 
department of forensic sciences  to determine for sure, noted Martin.

A student turned in the substance, according to Mike  Gaylor, 
headmaster for the school, and police were  called in to investigate.

There are still many questions surrounding how it  got there on 
campus," said Gaylor.

Like Selma High School officials, Gaylor also said that  during its 
history, the school has not had problems  with students using drugs 
or bringing them to school.

Officials at both schools indicated that they conduct  random drug 
tests on students.

At the private school, Gaylor said he could recall only  one instance 
of a student testing positive for  marijuana.

Police also made several arrests this past week during  routine 
patrols and traffic stops. Martin pointed out  that the narcotics 
unit would beef up its operation in  known drug areas where citizens 
have raised concerns.

The St. Phillips Street area saw a lot of activity last  week. 
According to police reports, patrolling officers  noticed a group 
loitering around the 1400 block. As  police approached, the group 
disbursed and officers  moved in to investigate. Officers discovered 
and  confiscated two bags of what appeared to be cocaine  with a 
street value of about $200, along with two guns  and ammunition in 
the area, according to officials.

On Friday, March 10, while patrolling the same area,  officers 
recovered a plastic bag of what appeared to be  crack cocaine with an 
estimated street value of $375,  police reports indicated. On that 
same day, Ricdriques  Terayne Parker was arrested in the vicinity of 
L.L.  Anderson and Keyser Alley on a charge of second-degree 
possession of marijuana.

During a routine traffic stop by Patrol Officer Jeffery  Hardy, 
Darryl Brian King, 35, and Angel Lenoir, 24,  both of Selma were 
arrested last Wednesday, March 8, on  charges of second-degree 
possession of marijuana. Hardy  confiscated three bags of alleged 
marijuana at the scene. The two were taken into custody and bond was 
set  at $500.

On Saturday, March 11, another routine traffic stop  yielded a drug 
arrest. This time, Officer Hardy found  both a substance believed to 
be crack cocaine and  marijuana residue.

Kevin Moore, 24, of Selma was arrested and charged 
with  second-degree possession of a controlled substance 
and  marijuana. Police also confiscated a black 2000 Jaguar  in 
connection with this arrest. The legal ownership of  the vehicle is 
in question, although it has not been  determined for certain if it 
was purchased with drug  money, since police are still investigating 
the Jaguar,  said Martin. Bond for Moore was set at $20,000.

Martin warned that the narcotics unit would continue to  diligently 
pursue drug users and distributors in Selma.

Our narcotics unit is very proactive and they  will be out there," he 
emphasized.

If you suspect drug activity in your neighborhood, you  can call the 
secret witness hotline at 874-2190 to  report it. The identity of 
those who report crimes on  this number will be kept confidential.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom