STUDENTS' ARRESTS PUZZLE PARENTS

Drug Sting Shakes Millington; Suspects Go To Court

A standing-room-only crowd in courtroom No. 3 forced Audie Matthews to
wait outside for most of the time that 16 Millington teenagers accused
of drug dealing faced a referee in Juvenile Court.

The mass detention hearing in Memphis Friday left half of the young
suspects locked up while waiting for trial. It gave seven a chance to
post a $1,000 bond to get out of lockup. One 17-year-old who was on
crutches because of an ankle broken while playing basketball was
allowed to walk out with his mother on the promise that he will return.

Matthews and his wife Shirley were looking for answers as they
prepared to post bond for their 17-year-old son, a Millington Central
High School senior who was set to graduate next month, before he was
charged.

"Basically I'm going to get him out, talk to him and find out what
he's saying about the situation and go from there," said Matthews, a
52-year-old bus driver.

"If he actually participated in this type of thing, you know really
there ain't too much we can do," he said. "Just bite the bullet and go
on with it."

It was just after lunch time Thursday when Millington police arrived
to arrest students charged with selling drugs to undercover officers
during a four-month undercover operation.

A total of 26 current and former students, ranging in age from 13 to
19, had sold marijuana, cocaine, Ecstasy, prescription drugs or other
substances and faced felony charges, police said.

The probe was a continuation of one that resulted in the indictment of
51 adults on felony drug charges in February.

Police said some adults snared by the first sting had used juveniles
to sell drugs. In fact, an undercover officer reported that one of the
students facing charges was raising money to get one of the adults
arrested in February out of jail.

The 16 young suspects at the Juvenile Court hearing on Friday were a
diverse lot.

They included three girls, a brother and sister, 11 students from
Millington Central High School, two from Millington Middle, two
Gateway Baptist Church homeschoolers and one not in school at all.

Of the 26 suspects, about 20 had been arrested by Friday afternoon,
police said.

They said all of the drug sales were initiated at the high school,
although the actual exchanges may have taken place elsewhere.

Court documents in Millington City Court described the events leading
to the charges against three adults -- 18- and 19-year-olds --
providing a clearer picture of the sting.

For example, on April 11 at about 2:50 p.m., high school student
Michael Hayes, 19, met an undercover police officer next to the high
school football field, police said in one affidavit.

The officer asked for $25 worth of marijuana. Hayes pulled out a large
plastic bag filled with about 15 smaller bags priced at $10 each.

"(Hayes) was given $25 for three bags and (Hayes) then walked back
into the school with the remaining narcotics.

"Michael Hayes was identified by school officials that observed the
drug transaction on school property," the court document said.

David Hutson, 44, was another father looking for answers and a $1,000
bond after the Juvenile Court hearing.

"The police want the big dealers," Hutson said. "I think they are just
trying to get to the young ones to get to the big guys."

The father said his 17-year-old daughter, who needed a few dollars for
gas, was charged with selling her prescription anti-depressant pills
- -- only a couple -- to a persistent undercover agent.

"She's a good girl," he said.