SCHOOL DRUG STING YIELDS NO ARRESTS

A weeklong drug sting at Hilton Head High School ended Friday morning with
a videotape of alleged drug activity, but no arrests.

About "two dozen" students had been "observed and videotaped" smoking
marijuana outside the school since May 3, according to a Beaufort County
Sheriff's Office drug task force. Police at 7:30 a.m. Friday temporarily
detained several students "on suspicious activity," but none had drugs, the
report states.

"The video is pretty cut and dried," Sheriff P.J. Tanner said. "It's very
obvious what they are doing."

Tanner would not comment on how the students were taped during the six days
of surveillance. He said the videotape was given to the school's resource
officer so school officials could meet with the students who were taped and
their parents to work out a solution to the problem.

Hilton Head High Principal Helen Ryan said she would review the footage
over the weekend before deciding what course of action the school would take.

Tanner said students were not arrested earlier in the week because the
surveillance was meant to uncover the depth of a possible drug problem on
the campus and those students who may be dealing marijuana. No illegal
substances were found Friday. Tanner said he has no intention of taking the
case to court based solely on the surveillance evidence.

Possession of a controlled substance by anyone 17 years old or older is a
misdemeanor and has a maximum sentence of 30 days in jail, said Beaufort
County Assistant Solicitor Duffie Stone. Possession of a controlled
substance with intent to distribute by an adult is a felony offense and has
a fine of up to $5,000, up to five years in prison or both.

Penalties for juvenile drug offenses are left to the discretion of the
family court judge, Stone said.