DRUG STING NETS 11 AT WINDER SCHOOL

An investigation by the Winder Police Department and the Barrow County
School System has resulted in the arrests of 11 individuals at
Winder-Barrow High School for drug-related offenses.

The six-month long "sting" drug operation began at the request of
Winder-Barrow Principal Rob Johnson, who had received multiple
complaints from concerned parents, students and community members
about the illegal drugs being purchased and distributed on his school
campus.

"This operation began as a fact-finding mission," said Johnson. "We
wanted to see if the complaints were true."

Johnson voiced his concerns to Winder Police Chief Stanley Rodgers and
the police department explored the options available for proactively
addressing the problem. After meeting with Winder Mayor Buddy Ouzts,
an undercover employee of the Winder Police Department was placed into
the high school as a student beginning last September.

"It has been a terrific partnership between the police department and
the school system," said Rodgers. "The safety of students and faculty
in our community's schools has always been a priority of ours at the
Winder Police Department."

The eight adult-aged students and three juveniles arrested were
involved in multiple drug sales. Marijuana and cocaine as well as
Methadone, Soma, Vicodin, Lortab, Xanax and Percocet were among the
drugs sold by the students to the undercover officer.

When law enforcement arrived at school to serve the warrants on
Monday, one of the juveniles, a 15-year-old, attempted to resist
arrest and threw down a plastic bag containing suspected marijuana.

Facing drug charges are [redacted].

All were booked into the Barrow County Detention Center. By Tuesday
evening [redacted] had been released on bond while the other
remained in custody.

The juveniles were transported to the Gainesville Regional Youth
Detention Center to await detention hearings in Juvenile Court. The
investigation is continuing and additional arrests may be
forthcoming.

These arrests bring to 22 the total number of drug-related arrests on
the 1,400-student Winder-Barrow High School campus thus far this
school year. In the 2005-06 school year, a dozen drug-related arrests
were made. Only four drug arrests were reported in 2004-05.

A total of 50 criminal and juvenile charges were filed against the
eleven suspects in response to 26 separate transactions that occurred
at and around the high school between September and March.

Chief Rodgers acknowledged the dedication and effort of the School
Resource Officer assigned to work at the high school.

"SRO Tim Harrell has been a tremendous asset to both the Winder Police
Department and the Barrow County School System for his diligence in
helping to maintain the integrity of this joint operation," said Rodgers.

At a joint press conference Monday at the Winder Police Department
with representatives from the city and the school system,
Superintendent of Schools Ron Saunders said, "Substance abuse can
never be taken lightly since the lives of our young people are at
stake. I sincerely hope that the message we are sending is loud and
clear."

"We care deeply about the lives of each and every one of our students
and this is a tragedy for all of the families and loved ones involved.
However, the law in this area is very clear; the school campus is for
learning. The majority of our students come to school everyday for
that purpose and to get a good education," Saunders said. "For those
who might think otherwise, please be advised that our SRO, faculty,
staff and others are always watching. We have a zero-tolerance policy
for this type of activity and behavior and it will be exercised."

"This is a painful lesson that can be turned into a good
opportunity-there is no time like the present to get your life back
on-track and moving forward in a positive and constructive way,"
Principal Johnson said. "The young people of Winder and Barrow County
are the future and hope for tomorrow. All of us have an obligation to
protect that hope and make sure that the services and resources are
utilized for prevention as well as intervention.

"I want to applaud the efforts of the Winder Police Department and the
work of everyone involved in this operation. I also want to say how
very important it is for the students, parents, faculty and community
to continue to communicate your concerns with me."

According to Lisa Leighton, public relations coordinator for Barrow
County School, the Barrow County School System employs trained
professionals to help anyone who is suffering from substance abuse or
addiction.