RCMP CHARGE SASS STUDENTS

Five Salmon Arm Senior Secondary students have been arrested and charged
with drug offences after RCMP and school staff partnered in a co-operative
investigation.

Three male grade 11 students, who can not be named under the Young
Offenders Act, are facing charges of trafficking in a controlled substance,
while another male young offender has been charged with possession of a
controlled substance. The fifth student, Geoff Walker, 18, has also been
charged with possession of a controlled substance.

SASS has suspended all the students, as well as another youth who was found
in possession of drug paraphernalia.

In all cases, the drug discovered was marijuana, in the form of rolled
joints or baggies filled with the drug. The arrests took place between Jan.
15 and Feb. 8, but the investigation has been taking place since school
district staff recognized the upswing in drug use among incoming students
in September.

Staff Sgt. Don Tonks, head of the local detachment, says the investigation
is continuing and may result in further charges.

"This is not an isolated incident to the Salmon Arm area. There are other
schools in the district that we are aware of having similar problems and
investigations are ongoing."

The investigation was spurred by an increasing concern among teachers and
school administrators about the number of students attending class while
under the influence of drugs. There was also obvious use of drugs while at
school or on the grounds.

Joe Rhodes, SASS principal, says the group of primarily grade 11 students
involved in the drug activities was "small but very noticeable."

Since September there have been 14 suspensions from SASS for drug offences.
"We can't be naive to think this is not being done, but this was so
obvious, so overt. We had to take some sort of proactive action," he says.
"But I must stress this was a small population. Ninety-five per cent of the
kids are not involved in drugs at school."

There were 808 students enrolled in SASS as of December.

The target market for the drug sales was other students. Rhodes says sales
were being made at school with a rolled joint going for about $5.

Other grade 11 students have been identified by school staff and police as
regular drug users. To deal with this, a round table discussion is being
organized for the group to discuss the issues surrounding drug use and
highlighting the consequences. Police, physicians and school staff will be
involved in the presentation.

"There is a group where the drug activity has been focused. We will be
meeting with the group of 25 to 30 kids and that's where our efforts will
be taken," says Rhodes.

"We believe we have cleaned this up and we want to make sure it stays that
way."

The five youth will make a first appearance in Salmon Arm provincial court
on March 19.