TOPSAIL DRUG BUST

HAMPSTEAD - An unannounced drug check on Tuesday morning by the Pender
County Sheriff's Department at Topsail High School netted one arrest, a
small amount of marijuana and paraphernalia. This check was nothing new
according to Captain Chris Thomas of the Pender County, who says deputies
are periodically and randomly checking all the schools in the county. "We
don't want to get the word out that we are coming in and the school likes
it that way too," said Thomas.

After hearing complaints about activities in the parking lot at Topsail
High, Thomas decided to do a concentrated check of the parking lot. "We
found a small amount of Marijuana," said Thomas. Jason Bryan Ashline of
Hampstead, 18, was arrested and charged with misdemeanor possession of
marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Thomas said his department used the K-9 unit from Surf City to help check
the parking lot. According to Thomas, last summer the department lost use
of its own K-9 unit and is hoping to reinstate the program. "Surf City,
Brunswick County and Wilmington help when they can, but since last summer
we have been at a standstill," Thomas said. "We are working on a K-9
program of our own." The dogs especially come in handy, according to
Thomas, when they do a school search. "We rely on the dogs since of smell
as well as the officers and school resource officers," said Thomas. "The
school and us have a zero tolerance for weapons or drugs on school grounds.
They will be arrested," he added.