7 ARRESTED IN ROCKWALL DRUG CASE

Investigation was launched after calls about school drug use

ROCKWALL - Two Rockwall High School students and five others have been
arrested and charged in connection with the dealing of heroin and other
drugs after an undercover investigation, authorities said Wednesday.

The seven were involved in a local drug ring, drug task force officials said.

In custody were Michelle Lynn Shipley, a 17-year-old junior at Rockwall
High School; senior Dylan Thomas Lotz, 17; Christopher McKay, 20; Jaclyn
Diane Prince, 18, a former Rockwall High School student; Charles Jason
Duncan, 22; and Zeke Sublett, 18. All were being held in the Rockwall
County Detention Center, jail officials said.

The seventh person taken into custody, a 16-year-old juvenile, was being
held in a Hunt County juvenile facility, officials said. Rockwall does not
have its own juvenile detention center. School officials said they could
not determine whether the juvenile was a high school student.

As police led Mr. Lotz to a squad car in handcuffs, he denied being
involved in drug dealing.

"I don't know what's going on," he said.

His father, Randy Lotz, said, "This is his first arrest. . . . We've never
had a problem with him in the past."

Mr. Lotz said his son enjoys school and had plans to graduate in May.

A woman related to Ms. Prince, who did not want to be identified, said the
18-year-old has received medical treatment for drug addiction.

"She's had some drug problems, but she swore she was over them," the woman said.

Calls to the Shipley residence were not returned Wednesday evening.
Families of Mr. McKay, Mr. Duncan and Mr. Sublett could not be reached.

The undercover operation began in October after officials with the
Northeast Area Drug Interdiction Task Force began receiving calls from
residents complaining about drug use among high school students, said Patsy
Williams, the task force commander.

The task force covers Rowlett, Rockwall County and Greenville in
neighboring Hunt County.

Task force officers then went under cover and made three drug buys of
between $300 and $400 from the group, involving heroin, cocaine, LSD and
marijuana, officials said.

Typically, one member of the ring would negotiate the deal with an officer,
another would accept the money and a third person would make the delivery,
officials said.

Officials said they knew the group had discovered the undercover operation
when an officer paid for drugs last week but never received them.

The purchases and deliveries of drugs were typically made in public places
such as convenience store parking lots, officials said. None of the buys
was made on the high school campus, officials said.

Heroin is becoming more popular with young people in Rockwall County and
around the area because it is inexpensive, District Attorney Ray Sumrow
said.

"It's relatively cheap, that's the problem," Mr. Sumrow said.

Cmdr. Williams said she plans to hold an assembly at Rockwall High School
to explain the drastic effects of heroin use.

"Kids now don't know how heroin used to be a long time ago," she said.
"They've heard of heroin all their life, but they don't understand and
comprehend the purity of it. This stuff is pure. It only takes you one
shot."

Mr. Sumrow says he has received phone calls and letters from Rockwall High
School students telling him about the heroin problem at the high school

"They're telling me we've got a problem," he said. "They're aware of it,
and they don't want it to happen in our community."

Jim Randolph, principal of Rockwall High School, said he is concerned about
the problem and is pleased to cooperate with the task force.

"We want that away from our kids, and we want it away from our community,"
Mr. Randolph said.

Bail had not been set Wednesday evening for any of the six adults except
Ms. Shipley, whose bail was set at $30,000. She is charged with
delivery/offer of a dangerous drug and engaging in an organized criminal
activity.

Arraignments for the other adults were set for Thursday.

In arrest warrants, Mr. Lotz is charged with manufacturing and delivery of
a controlled substance over 4 grams, under 200 grams, along with engaging
in an organized criminal activity. Mr. McKay is charged with manufacturing
and delivery of a controlled substance over 1 gram, under 4 grams. Ms.
Prince is charged with manufacturing and delivery of a controlled substance
over 4 grams, under 200 grams, along with engaging in an organized criminal
activity.

Mr. Duncan is charged with two counts of manufacturing and delivery of a
controlled substance over 1 gram, under 4 grams, along with engaging in an
organized criminal activity. Mr. Sublett is charged with possession of a
controlled substance over 1 gram, under 4 grams.