Pubdate: Thu, 04 Oct 2001 Source: Charlotte Observer (NC) Copyright: 2001 The Charlotte Observer Contact: http://www.charlotte.com/observer/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/78 Author: Heather Howard, Samantha Peterson 5 AT SCHOOL ARRESTED BY A DEPUTY POSING AS STUDENT Principal Asks For Sting To Gauge Drug Traffic; Gun Discovered In Car MONROE -- A sheriff's deputy posing as a high school student busted five Forest Hills High School students Wednesday on drug charges and charged one with having a gun at school, Union County Sheriff Frank McGuirt said. At the request of Forest Hills Principal Archie Price, a 21-year-old female deputy posed as a student, taking classes, attending school activities and setting up bogus drug deals. Price said he wanted to see if the school had a drug problem -- and stop it if it did. He did the same thing last year as principal at Piedmont High School. "I'm not happy there were drugs here, and I'm not happy that some students made the wrong choices," Price said. "But I'm happy that those students have been dealt with." Price said he was shocked to find out a student had a gun in a car. The student told officials about the gun as they went outside to search the car, he said. A similar investigation was under way at Weddington High School until last week, when the undercover operative was killed in a car accident, McGuirt said. According to sheriff's records, these students were charged with possession with intent to sell, as well as sale and delivery: Matthew Cole Lowery, 17, of Monroe; Michael Brandon Sims, 18, of Wingate; Damien Maurice Cabble, 18, of Marshville; and Robert Paul Winfrey III, 17, of Monroe. Mitchell O'Brian McKenzie, 17, of Marshville was charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana and possession of a weapon on school property. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth