Pubdate: Sat, 18 Feb 2006
Source: Eagle-Tribune, The (MA)
Copyright: 2006 The Eagle-Tribune
Contact:  http://www.eagletribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/129
Author: Gordon  Fraser
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/raids.htm (Drug Raids)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

DRUG SWEEP AT SANBORN HIGH NETS SIX ARRESTS

KINGSTON, N.H. - A five month sting operation by town and  state 
police led to six arrests yesterday - most, if not all of them, 
Sanborn  Regional High School students - and included the search of 
lockers, backpacks  and student desks with drug dogs.

A warrant has been issued for a seventh arrest related to the drug 
sting, but police had not yet found that individual early last night. 
At around 10 a.m., police arrested six people at the high school. All 
were charged with crimes related to either the sale, transportation 
or use of marijuana. No other drugs are mentioned in the charges. 
Later in the day, at around 1 p.m., fire alarms sounded and students 
were led to Swasey Gymnasium. Once there, Sgt. Patrick Palmer and 
Trooper David Needham  of the state police, along with Kingston 
police officers, took two police dogs  through the school, sniffing 
backpacks and lockers. Kingston police Chief Donald Briggs said dogs 
indicated the presence of drugs 10 times, but no drugs were found. 
Briggs said a residual smell often remains  after drugs have been 
removed, and he believed drugs had been stored in the 10  locations 
"at some time."

No charges will be filed as a result of the search, however. Briggs 
said the 1 p.m. search by police was prompted by the school district. 
The arrests in the morning were directly related to five months of 
operations by  undercover police officers, however, and were not 
prompted by the school officials. During the sting operation, Briggs 
said, undercover police officers purchased marijuana in "controlled buys."

High school Principal Gail Sudduth said she was told of the six 
arrests yesterday morning, before they took place. She also said that 
a search of the school by drug dogs is not unprecedented. The school 
has held such searches several times before, usually once every few 
years, she said. She said a School Board policy made searches of 
lockers and scans of backpacks by dogs permissible.

"We want Sanborn to be a safe environment for all of our students, a 
safe and drug-free environment," she said.

Sudduth said she did not believe Sanborn had a greater drug problem 
than other schools, but she stressed the importance of working to 
maintain a drug-free environment.

Student opinions about the search were mixed, with some saying the 
searches were an invasion of privacy and others saying they were 
necessary to maintain a  drug-free environment.

"I feel a little violated. I don't want people searching my stuff," 
said first year student Rob Verreault.

Sophomore Kayla Fairbrother disagreed. "I don't have anything to 
hide," she said. Fairbrother added that authorities have done a 
fairly good job keeping drug use under control in the schools. First 
year student Matt Card said he believed the search was important, and 
stressed that the use of marijuana is illegal.

"If you want to do that stuff, go to Canada," he said. Students said 
the 1 p.m. search was not announced as a search by teachers. Most 
said that they believed they were taking part in a fire drill. First 
year student Kegan Spencer said he didn't realize police were 
searching for drugs until he saw authorities enter the building with 
dogs. Several students said they know of drug use by their classmates 
- - mostly the use of alcohol and marijuana.

Prescription drugs - particularly Adderall, Ritalin and Vicodin - are 
also available, said one group of three students. That group said 
they had also encountered speed and Ecstasy, although they did not do 
drugs  themselves.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman