POLICE RAID SCHOOL

Twenty-Two Students Arrested For Alleged Drug Use On Arhs Property

AMHERST - Police and school officials are planning to hold a news
conference today to answer questions about a drug bust at Amherst
Regional High School on Friday.

A small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia were seized and 22
students arrested following a raid by members of the Cumberland
Integrated Street Crime Unit.

" We had received complaints from the community about alleged drug
use in the parking lot at the school. The street crime unit set up
surveillance at the school and took the appropriate action," Amherst
Police Deputy Chief Ian Naylor said.

The Cumberland Integrated Street Crime Unit, made up of officers from
the Amherst and Springhill police departments and the Cumberland
RCMP, announced the arrests Saturday.

In a statement, police said the drug investigation is continuing and
a decision on charges will be made after the probe is wrapped up.

The Chignecto-Central Regional School Board and the high school are
co-operating with police during the investigation. School
administration interviewed the students, contacted their parents and
is handling the matter as per school board policy and the student
code of conduct.

" We appreciate the professionalism the police showed while
interviewing the students involved," board spokeswoman Carolyn Pierce
said. "They treated our students with dignity and respect. We will
continue to work with the police throughout the investigation, and
going forward."

Chignecto Family of Schools supervisor Scott Milner said an
undetermined number of students were suspended. Several media outlets
reported the number of suspensions at 13

" We responded to the information made available from police. Our
procedure is that anytime police have communication with any of our
students at school we call the parents and talk to the students,"
Milner said. " We followed procedure by talking to every student that
was allegedly involved and their parents."

School administrators will be at ARHS early this morning to answer
questions from students and staff.

" We have to communicate about what went on and answer whatever
questions students and staff may have," Milner said.

A student, who asked not to be identified, said police lined up a
group of students in the school's rear parking lot and began taking
them into the music/drama room in small groups to be searched and
questioned. He said those questioned were told they had been
videotaped possessing or smoking marijuana over several days. He said
they were told suspensions were for at least five days and that they
will be meeting with police sometime this week.

Another student, who also asked not to be identified, said police
arrested several people he knew.

"All the students were talking about it," he said, adding teachers
did not talk about it after it happened.

The incident has led to a debate on the social networking site
Facebook. A group called ARHS Drug Bust was created within hours of
the incident, with a number of posters complaining about the raid and
others applauding police for taking action.

As of Sunday, there were more than 550 members.

Naylor said he is aware of the website, but did not want to comment
on its content.