JOHNSTON COUNTY SHERIFF QUESTIONS DRUG-TEST DELAY

SMITHFIELD -- Johnston County Sheriff Steve Bizzell has launched an
internal investigation to determine why it took nearly four months to
process drug-test results that later exonerated an honors student who had
been suspended.

Laura Howard, a senior at Smithfield-Selma High School, was suspended Nov.
15 after authorities found a cigar in her car that they believed contained
marijuana. She was then sent to the school district's alternative school
for the rest of the school year.

Last week, however, Howard returned to her school after learning that tests
from the Department of Justice in Raleigh on the cigar found no illegal
substances. The lab report was dated Jan. 19.

Bizzell said he wants to find out how long it normally takes to complete
such drug tests and what might have caused the apparent delay in Howard's
case. He said Monday that he did not know when the lab results were
returned to his agency.

Bizzell on Monday also defended the investigation. After a drug dog led a
sheriff's deputy to Howard's car, the deputy asked her whether he could
search it and found the cigar.

The district policy requires a 10-day suspension for students suspected of
possessing drugs. The policy also recommends suspending students for the
remainder of the school year.

"The deputy involved ... acted professionally, responsibly and in accord
with his duty," Bizzell said in a statement. He added that the
circumstances "gave probable cause for the search and seizure of the
substances found in the student's automobile and probable cause for the
issuance of the citation."

Bizzell also criticized Johnston County school officials.

"Perhaps they've got a policy that needs to be looked at and or revised,"
he said. "To try to intimidate me in throwing the blame my way was
unacceptable. I take offense to it."

Johnston County Schools Superintendent Jim Causby declined to comment.