CHURCH DRUG INCIDENT SPARKS INVESTIGATION

Eleven Teenagers Hospitalized After Taking Medication

Police were piecing together information today after 11 teenagers were
sent to the hospital after taking prescription pills at a church
service in Elkview.

Sgt. Jay Powers, spokesman for the State Police, said Metro 911
received a call about 8 p.m. Wednesday that a teenage girl had become
sick during a Mount Pleasant Baptist Church youth service on Pleasant
Island in Elkview.

When paramedics arrived, the girl told them she and several others had
taken the pills, said the Rev. Lee Swor, the church's pastor.

Ten others, ranging in age from 13 to 19, came forward and told the
paramedics they also had taken the pills. He said they then were
transported to various area hospitals as a precautionary measure.

Youth Pastor Eric Haney said the group of kids had attended the
Wednesday night meeting in the past, but he was not certain if they
were church members. "They'd been there once or twice before," he
said. "They were not regulars."

The 19-year-old male police suspected of passing out the pills had
been coming to the meetings for the last month and had not caused any
problems, Haney said.

He said the kids who took the pills did not seem ill, and the girl who
initially was sick complained of being dizzy, but never lost
consciousness.

Police have not released the name of the suspect because he has not
been charged.

Swor said early reports that a youth pastor had given out the pills
were untrue. He said there were 15 adult supervisors there along with
about 60 kids who attended the service.

"You can't do a drug check on everybody that comes in the door," he
said. "It was unfortunate, but we're thankful no one was seriously
injured."

Swor said the church hosts the program every Wednesday night, and uses
it as an outreach program to minister to youths who attend the church
and others in the community.

He said the teenagers taken to the hospital knew each other and knew
the man who passed out the pills. "None of our adults saw anything,"
Swor said.

Police have an idea of the type of pill that was taken, but Powers
said they are waiting on lab confirmation before they released the
name. He did confirm it was prescription medication, but that it was
not life threatening.

Powers said troopers will follow up on the investigation today and
will determine what, if any, charges will be filed against the suspect.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.