11 STUDENTS ARRESTED IN UNDERCOVER DRUG INVESTIGATION

WINDER, Ga. - Authorities arrested 11 high school students on drug
charges after a six-month undercover investigation at the school in
which a police employee posed as a classmate.

The arrests began Monday, shortly after classes began at Winder-Barrow
High School.

The students - whose ages range from 15 to 19 - face a total of 26
charges. Most students were arrested at the school, but one, who did
not come to school, was arrested at home.

Prompted by complaints from parents and students, the investigation
began in September when a Winder police employee enrolled at the
school as a student, Principal Rob Johnson said.

During his time at the school, the undercover employee bought a
variety of drugs including cocaine, marijuana, methadone, Soma,
Vicodin, Lortab, Xanax and Percocet, Winder Police Lt. Todd Druse said.

In the meantime, the undercover agent had a regular class schedule.
Teachers did not know he was not really a student, Druse said.

"He had to do homework and take geometry," Druse said. "He said he
didn't have to take geometry the first time he was in high school. He
kept up good grades."

The employee has returned to regular duty at the Winder Police
Department.

Police were still investigating where the drugs came from, Druse said.