DRUG SWEEP OF 5 MAURY SCHOOLS BRINGS CHARGES AGAINST 1 STUDENT

COLUMBIA -- A dozen drug-sniffing dogs descended on Maury County schools
yesterday, making a surprise sweep of students' lockers, belongings and
automobiles.

And when their keen noses had cleared the area, one Columbia Central High
School student was charged with having drug paraphernalia, and evidence of
marijuana had been found in a Spring Hill High School student's car,
according to Maury County Drug Task Force and K-9 Officer Stuart Chaffin.

"We found a bong and marijuana residue in a car belonging to a 17-year-old
Central High student, and he was charged with being delinquent, and we got
a positive indication on a young lady's car at Spring Hill," Chaffin said.

"We found seeds and stems and leafy substances, but not really enough to
charge her. The school resource officer may file charges, though."

K-9 units from Brentwood, Giles County, Lawrenceburg and Lawrence County,
along with Maury County's two K-9 dogs, Priscilla and Chief, participated
in the drug sweep, roaming hallways and parking lots at five local schools.

"We hit Columbia Academy, Central High School, Culleoka, Whitthorne Middle
and Spring Hill High School," Chaffin said. "The principals were aware of
the sweep and we worked Columbia Academy and Central High School
simultaneously, so no phone calls could be made to alert students of what
we were doing."

Officers and their K-9 colleagues worked from 7:30 a.m. until 1 p.m.,
checking every locker in the schools.

"We had some positive indications for drugs on lockers, but they weren't
there when we hand-searched the lockers," Chaffin said.

The Maury County Drug Task Force makes unannounced drug sweeps of schools
at least once or twice a year.