STRATFORD RAID TALKS END WITHOUT A COMPROMISE

Attorneys Reach Impasse In Suit Over Police Search At School

Lawyers ended talks without a compromise Wednesday in the federal lawsuit
over November's controversial drug raid at Stratford High School in Goose
Creek.

Attorneys for Stratford students, the Goose Creek Police Department
and Berkeley County School District began mediation sessions Monday
morning under court order. They reached an impasse by Wednesday afternoon.

"One party wants a trial, and that's what they'll get," said Frederick
Jekel, a lawyer for the students. "We will begin the process right
away."

Attorneys on all sides said they could not discuss details of the
mediation sessions.

The lawsuit stems from a drug sweep at Berkeley County's largest high
school early Nov. 5. Goose Creek police officers searching for drugs
charged into Stratford's main hallway, several with guns drawn.
Officers ordered students to the floor while a police dog searched
book bags. Some students were put in plastic restraints and later released.

Police found no drugs and made no arrests, but school surveillance
camera recordings of the event brought national media attention and
criticism. Two separate groups of 18 and 20 students in the hallway at
the time filed federal lawsuits, contending their constitu-tional
rights were violated. The two suits were combined in March.

"In my opinion, it was clearly in the best interests of the district
to resolve all litigation without the expense, inconvenience and
disruption of a lengthy litigation process," Berkeley County schools
Superintendent Chester Floyd, who participated in the sessions, said
in a statement. "I regret that we were unsuccessful in our efforts."

The district's lawyer, Duke Highfield, said he remains hopeful a
settlement can be reached.

Discussions lasted for more than seven hours both Monday and Tuesday,
then concluded by 2 p.m. Wednesday.

"I believe we would've kept at it had the mediator thought there was a
serious possibility we could reach an agreement," said Gregg Meyers,
another attorney for the students. "He saw no point. This was our
early and best shot at reaching an agreement. It didn't work.

"I really was hoping to resolve the case," said Meyers, who also is a
Charleston County School Board member. "I'm very sympathetic to the
taxpayers. We could've gotten it done without any taxes involved. Not
a nickel of tax money was at risk."

Attorney Donna Givens, representing the city of Goose Creek and its
police department, could not be reached for comment.

In February, the Berkeley County School Board unanimously approved new
guidelines on how administrators and police officers should conduct
future student searches.