Police: 16-Year-Old Single-Handedly Sparked Weed Epidemic in Town
The student was allegedly bringing pounds of marijuana to his town from Colorado and California.
These lollipops laced with marijauna's THC chemical were confiscated from West Noble High School students in November. Photo courtesy of the Noble County Sheriff's Dept.
Law enforcement officials ended a large-scale marijuana distribution operation at an Indiana high school after arresting a student Friday morning.
Police discovered multiple pounds of marijuana and $4,000 in cash at a 16-year-old boy’s home in Ligonier as part of an investigation into a string of drug-related incidents at West Noble High School.
West Noble Principal Amanda Nine said 20 students had been disciplined so far this year at the northern Indiana school for possessing or consuming marijuana, according to wthitv.com.
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In addition to finding the drug in plant form, school administrators also discovered students were in possession of marijuana-laced lollipops last month.
Noble County Prosecutor Eric Blackman says the incidents at the high school sparked an extensive investigation involving both the Noble County Sheriff’s Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
During that investigation, officials determined a 16-year-old student at the school was the source of the distribution. Blackman says the student made trips to California and Colorado to bring pounds of marijuana and other marijuana-laced edibles to the school.
“We take community safety, and especially school safety, very seriously,” Blackman says. “This incident also provides an important reminder that parents need to be vigilant. All children deserve the opportunity to grow up in a drug-free environment, and we will continue to work together to be sure they get that chance.”
The student, who has not been identified, is being held at the Allen County Juvenile Center.
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