SEVERAL ARRESTED IN MCINTOSH COLLEGE DRUG BUST

DOVER - Police and drug agents converged this morning on the McIntosh
College dormitory and culinary school, arresting several students in
connection with a two-month undercover investigation.

The investigation, dubbed "Operation Home Cookin'," was a joint effort of
Dover police and the New Hampshire Attorney General's Drug Task Force. Nine
people are facing 18 charges involving the sale or possession of marijuana,
Ecstasy and varieties of prescription drugs.

"It is an open-air drug market like we've never seen in the city," Dover
Police Chief William Fenniman said.

David McGuire, president of McIntosh College, said he supported the police
raid and that disciplinary action would be taken against the students
involved. Some of them have already been dismissed from the school or
dormitory, he said.

"We fully support the action taken. It's part of an ongoing effort to
enforce our zero-tolerance policy," McGuire said. He said the college
security staff have provided information to police in the past and will
continue to do so.

The arrests took place at about 7:30 this morning, involving 26 Dover
police officers and masked Drug Task Force agents. The police department's
Special Response Team, a SWAT-type unit, was on hand in case any trouble
arose. Arrests were made at the dormitory at 181 Silver St. as well as
off-campus apartments on Dover Street and Locust Street. As of late this
morning, police were conducting searches at the dormitory and at a Locust
Street residence. Some of the suspects were scheduled to be arraigned this
afternoon in Dover District Court.

Fenniman said most of the alleged drug sales took place in the parking lot
of the dormitory or the gas station next door. One suspect was dealing
openly to passers-by in Henry Law Park, Fenniman said. Another sale took
place at the McIntosh College campus on Rutland Street, he said.

But 11 of the alleged sales also took place in school zones at Woodman Park
School and St. Mary Academy. Fenniman said this could potentially double
the penalty for those convicted and requires a 1-year mandatory minimum
jail sentence. Fenniman said one of the reasons why the operation was
wrapped up now was safety concerns for the elementary students who will
soon be returning to school.

The undercover agents had little trouble finding sellers, according to Jeff
Mutter, Seacoast supervisor with the Drug Task Force. While the drugs were
primarily being distributed within the student population, they were also
readily sold to agents, Mutter said.

"It was very easy. It was something you'd see in a TV show, it was that
open," he said.

Fenniman said eight of the suspects have been positively identified as
current or former McIntosh students and the ninth told agents that he was a
student. Police had received information to indicate that some of them were
returning to their home towns to pick up additional supplies of drugs, he said.

The nine suspects are as follows:

Eric D. Wilburn, 27, who lived in Room 204 of the dormitory, has been
charged with four counts of selling marijuana, three of them in a school
zone. He is originally from New York state, according to police. Wilburn
has also been charged with misdemeanor drug possession because he allegedly
tossed away some marijuana as police were preparing to arrest him.

Corey M. Payne, 21, who lived in Room 115 of the dormitory, was charged
with for counts of selling marijuana, Ecstasy, and the prescription drugs
Valium and Zoloft. Three of these sales allegedly took place in a school
zone, according to police. Payne is originally from Danvers, Mass.

Andrew L. Kostieu, 19, of 119 Locust St., Apartment 2, was charged with
three counts of selling marijuana, one of them in a school zone. He is
originally from East Hampstead.

Carolyn Cockrell, 42, who lived in Room 116 of the dormitory, was charged
with one count of selling marijuana in a school zone. She is originally
from Cincinnati, Ohio.

Kemi Awomolo, 31, of 163 Central Ave., No. 8, was charged with two counts
of selling marijuana, one of which allegedly occurred in a school zone.
Awomolo is originally from New York state, according to police.

William T. Roberts, 42, of 105 Locust St., was charged with possession of
marijuana with intent to distribute and conspiracy to distribute. He is
originally from New York state, according to police.

Jared M. Perkins, 19, of 86 Broadway, was charged with possessing marijuana
in a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor. He is originally from Idaho.

Charles A. Poole, 19, of Room 231 in the dormitory, was arrested later this
morning in Hampstead. He was charged with selling Ecstasy in a school zone.
Poole is originally from Maryland, according to police.

During this morning's operation, police also arrested Taras "Taz" R. Lane,
34, no address available. He is a former student who was wanted on a
probation violation out of Georgia, according to police. He has also been
charged with resisting detention.

Relations between the McIntosh College and police department have been
strained for months, with police reporting more than 200 calls for service
at the dormitory over the past year. Police also reported numerous
complaints from Silver Street neighbors.

The college president has said the school wants to continue its 106-year
friendship with the community and is implementing some changes. McGuire
said McIntosh is capping enrollment at its Atlantic Culinary Academy and is
seeking to expand student housing in another neighborhood. The school also
plans to build more classrooms and kitchens at its Silver Street campus,
cutting down on the amount of traffic as students walk or drive to classes
on Rutland Street.

McGuire said the school's response to this morning's raid will demonstrate
to community members that McIntosh is taking their concerns seriously.

"We will continue to enforce a zero-tolerance policy," McGuire said.

Fenniman has frequently criticized the school, saying it admits students
with criminal records. Of the nine people charged this morning, Fenniman
said at least one had a prior conviction for selling drugs and two had
convictions for possession.

"Based upon what we know is going on down there ... the college has to
seriously entertain a change in their admissions policy," Fenniman said.
"Because it appears in my opinion that all anybody needs to do is show up
on the doorstep with a spatula in one hand and an application for federal
aid in the other for admittance."

Culinary students who emerged from their classes to watch the police raid
expressed mixed reactions.

"This is just to make a big scene," said Josh Midwood, who pointed out the
Special Response Team members with their assault rifles.

Aaron Handy said he doesn't like to wear his chef's outfit off campus
because he believes it makes him a target for police.

Scott O'Connor said he was glad that the some students allegedly involved
in drug activity had been rounded up.

"It makes me want to transfer," he said.