Pubdate: Mon, 12 Apr 2010
Source: Amherst Daily News (CN NS)
Copyright: Amherst Daily News 2010
Contact:  http://www.amherstdaily.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3379
Author: Darrell Cole

POLICE RAID SCHOOL

Twenty-Two Students Arrested For Alleged Drug Use On Arhs Property

AMHERST - Police and school officials are planning to hold a news 
conference today to answer questions about a drug bust at Amherst 
Regional High School on Friday.

A small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia were seized and 22 
students arrested following a raid by members of the Cumberland 
Integrated Street Crime Unit.

" We had received complaints from the community about alleged drug 
use in the parking lot at the school. The street crime unit set up 
surveillance at the school and took the appropriate action," Amherst 
Police Deputy Chief Ian Naylor said.

The Cumberland Integrated Street Crime Unit, made up of officers from 
the Amherst and Springhill police departments and the Cumberland 
RCMP, announced the arrests Saturday.

In a statement, police said the drug investigation is continuing and 
a decision on charges will be made after the probe is wrapped up.

The Chignecto-Central Regional School Board and the high school are 
co-operating with police during the investigation. School 
administration interviewed the students, contacted their parents and 
is handling the matter as per school board policy and the student 
code of conduct.

" We appreciate the professionalism the police showed while 
interviewing the students involved," board spokeswoman Carolyn Pierce 
said. "They treated our students with dignity and respect. We will 
continue to work with the police throughout the investigation, and 
going forward."

Chignecto Family of Schools supervisor Scott Milner said an 
undetermined number of students were suspended. Several media outlets 
reported the number of suspensions at 13

" We responded to the information made available from police. Our 
procedure is that anytime police have communication with any of our 
students at school we call the parents and talk to the students," 
Milner said. " We followed procedure by talking to every student that 
was allegedly involved and their parents."

School administrators will be at ARHS early this morning to answer 
questions from students and staff.

" We have to communicate about what went on and answer whatever 
questions students and staff may have," Milner said.

A student, who asked not to be identified, said police lined up a 
group of students in the school's rear parking lot and began taking 
them into the music/drama room in small groups to be searched and 
questioned. He said those questioned were told they had been 
videotaped possessing or smoking marijuana over several days. He said 
they were told suspensions were for at least five days and that they 
will be meeting with police sometime this week.

Another student, who also asked not to be identified, said police 
arrested several people he knew.

"All the students were talking about it," he said, adding teachers 
did not talk about it after it happened.

The incident has led to a debate on the social networking site 
Facebook. A group called ARHS Drug Bust was created within hours of 
the incident, with a number of posters complaining about the raid and 
others applauding police for taking action.

As of Sunday, there were more than 550 members.

Naylor said he is aware of the website, but did not want to comment 
on its content.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart