APOLOGY ON WHIFF LIST

Suspended Student Hires Top Lawyer For Board Dogfight

AN OTTAWA student suspended after a random school narcotic search says he's
an innocent casualty of the war on drugs being fought in city classrooms.

Chris Laurin, a St. Matthew High School student, was suspended Tuesday
after a police dog signalled to its handler that a jacket belonging to the
youth carried the scent of marijuana.

Now, the 15-year-old and his lawyer Lawrence Greenspon are vowing to wipe
the residue of his two-day suspension from his record.

Laurin and Greenspon want the suspension to be rescinded and the board to
issue public apology.

"We'll take whatever steps we feel are necessary to have the suspension
taken off Chris' record," said Greenspon.

The Ottawa-Carleton Catholic School Board is refusing any comment in the
matter.

Laurin's dad Michel said he stands behind his son and is proud of the way
he has handled the incident.

'LOCKDOWN HAPPENING'

Tuesday morning started just as any other for the Grade 10 student and was
going fine until 10 a.m., when officers arrived with police dog Thunder for
a routine drug search.

"(The principal) announced over the PA that there's a lockdown happening,
which is not unordinary," said Laurin.

Students in his classroom were ordered into the hall while the German
shepherd put its nose to work.

"The dog went in . . . they came out with my coat," he said. "I didn't
think I could get in any trouble for something I didn't do."

The shakedown continued in the principal's office, but a search of his
pockets and a locker search turned up no drugs. With no pot to make the
suspension righteous, the principal went with the dog's testimony.

"(They told me) I was in trouble because of a faint residue that was left
on my jacket because of marijuana smoke," Laurin said.

Laurin said he has he never smoked marijuana, or even carried the wacky
weed in his grey snowboarding jacket, exhibit A in the case against him.
The ordeal has made him a folk hero to some peers who have spent hours at
school this week with the tale rolling off their tongues.

"If anything it made me more popular," Laurin said.

But he said it was an embarrassing experience and he feels wronged.

"I just didn't like the fact that all my teachers saw me dragged through
the halls because of this. It totally embarrassed me, it made me feel
terrible."

The police search of the school ended with two students being charged, one
with narcotics possession and one with a weapons offence.