published: Sunday, November 11, 2012

SMS students arrested for marijuana

By CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY

christopher.tuffley@newssun.com

SEBRING -- According to a Sebring Police Department arrest report, two Sebring Middle School students were arrested Tuesday and charged with possession of marijuana and the intention of selling or distributing it.

The incident began when two students told the school's guidance counselor they'd been shown an ink pen stuffed with marijuana.

The counselor went immediately to SPD School Resource Officer Wilma Tindell, who began an investigation, first speaking with the boy who had showed off the pen.

He agreed to a search and two pens with marijuana were found in his book bag. However, the boy said he had been given the pens by a 16-year-old student.

The 16-year-old was brought to the office and also agreed to a search. Nothing was found.

But, the 16-year-old said while he had given the first boy the pens, he had done so at the request of a 13-year-old fellow student. In exchange for delivering the pen, he was to keep half of the $20 price, according to reports.

That led to the 13-year-old being called to the office. He too agreed to a search of his person and book bag, although he denied any knowledge of the pens. In the book bag, Tindell found "two small baggies containing a green leafy substance, wrapped inside a black T-shirt in the side bag of the book bag.

"I tested the substance inside the baggie and the contents tested positive for THC."

The 13- and 16-year-old were each arrested at that point and placed in handcuffs. Both were later released to their mothers.

According to Drug Free Highlands, the vast majority of young people in the county do not use marijuana, but it is a problem for some.

For example, in May at the end of the 2011-2012 school year nine students from four schools were referred to the district's substance abuse program. Two of those students attended Sebring Middle School, one attended Avon Park Middle, two Lake Placid High and four Avon Park High.

Dr. Rodney Hollinger, deputy superintendent, did not answer a News-Sun request for an interview.