TWO BROWN U. STUDENTS ARRESTED FOR MARIJUANA

(U-WIRE) PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Brown University Police and Security arrested
two Goddard House residents on narcotics violations charges early Thursday
morning.

Christopher Hayes, a Herald staff writer, and Daniel Weiner were arrested
and charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana, according to a
Providence Police Department incident report.

While patrolling Goddard House at approximately 3:20 a.m., BUPS officer
Kevin Pepere detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from the room that
Hayes and Weiner share, according to the PPD report.

After Hayes let him into the room, Pepere determined that the odor was
coming from within the room and observed a marijuana pipe "in plain view on
a desk," the report said.

Pepere read both suspects their Miranda rights and advised the students to
turn over any additional narcotics and paraphernalia, the report said.
Pepere's report stated that 19.4 grams of marijuana and four marijuana
pipes were confiscated.

Both students were transported to BUPS headquarters for processing and then
brought to PPD Central Station for further processing, the report said.

Earlier this week, BUPS arrested two Marcy House residents, also for
possession of marijuana. In all four Wriston Quad incidents, Pepere was the
arresting officer and the students were transported to PPD Central Station
after processing at BUPS headquarters. Pepere could not be reached for
comment Thursday night.

BUPS Sgt. John Williams told The Herald Thursday night that the arrests are
not indicative of any change in the department's handling of narcotics
violations on campus. He said BUPS has made no decision to crack down on
narcotics violators or operate in any way differently than usual.

"Our policies haven't changed," Williams said.

BUPS officers have made regular walk-throughs of dorms, including their
interiors, for "a number of years," BUPS Lt. Kevin Andrews told The Herald
Monday.

BUPS declined to comment on any other aspects of Thursday's arrests.

According to the PPD report, Weiner and Hayes "were very cooperative with
police during the investigation."

If convicted of the misdemeanor charge, both students could face up to one
year in prison and/or a fine of $200 to $500 under Rhode Island law.

Hayes and Weiner both declined to comment on the circumstances surrounding
their arrests.