`STUDENT' BUSTS 8 AT C.B. WEST FOR DRUGS

by Leon Taylor, Daily News Staff Writer

A kid who called himself Ed Hernandez went back to high school three months
ago.

But it was eight Central Bucks West High School students who learned a hard
lesson early yesterday when they were arrested at the end of their new pal
Eddie's threemonth undercover drug sting.

Hernandez actually is a 26yearold Temple University police officer who
posed as an 18yearold senior at C.B. West to root out drug traffic at the
sprawling school in Doylestown, authorities said.

The babyfaced cop with braces on his teeth mixed and mingled with the
students, cut a few classes and cut up in a few more. He took in a few
Bucks football games, missed some homework assignments and even got sent to
the principal's office once for misbehaving.

In between, he bought small quantities of marijuana and hashish from eight
students at C.B. West and one at nearby Delaware Valley College,
authorities said. Most of the deals went down outside the school building,
but one $75 buy was made in a secondfloor school restroom.

"At first, they did not trust me due to the fact of the way I looked," said
Hernandez, a Temple cop for 2 years, "But after a while . . . I started
winning their trust."

But, you can't fool all of the people all of the time.

"There were a few times when I was in a large group and someone would pop
out and say, 'I heard that you're a narc,' " Hernandez said.

Hernandez said he was ordered to "fit in." He couldn't carry a weapon, date
the girls, or use or supply drugs or alcohol during his matriculation.

Hernandez claimed to be a transfer student who had troubles with his
parents at home. He was sent to the principal's office once after missing a
detention for a class paper he failed to hand in.

Several students and faculty even wanted him to try out for the basketball
team.

Hernandez's slamdunk came about 6:30 a.m. yesterday, when Doylestown
police, carrying arrest warrants, fanned out to the homes of the eight
students who had been tripped up by Eddie's crossover move.

C.B. West senior Furman Boykin, 18, and Delaware Valley College freshman
Robert Schnitzer, 19, face mandatory fiveyear sentences for possession and
delivery of controlled substances.

The seven highschool minors, ages 15 to 17, also could face jail time on
felony charges of conspiracy, possession and delivery, said Alan
Rubenstein, Bucks County district attorney.

Four of the highschoolers were released to their parents to await court
hearings. The others were jailed until bail is set.