Drug sweep Friday at Poplar Bluff High School finds marijuana, pills

COREY MATTHEWS ~ Daily American Republic A drug-sniffing dog hits on a pickup truck in the parking lot of Poplar Bluff High School Friday morning during an unannounced drug sweep. The dog~s handler is Frankie Adams of the Sikeston Department of Public Safety. [Click to enlarge]

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — Bags of suspected marijuana, packaged for sale, and prescription pills were found in a Poplar Bluff High School student's truck Friday during a canine search of the school buildings and grounds.

"Since we had retired our dog, Argo, we had not been to the school lately," said Poplar Bluff police chief Danny Whiteley. After a discussion with school officials, it was decided "we should probably run the dog through the school as an indication we hadn't forgotten about it or taken for granted there might not be contraband there and that we still had access to a canine unit for these types of events."

Whiteley said he contacted Sikeston Department of Pub-lic Safety director Drew Juden and requested his canine officer bring the department's dog over Friday morning.

Canine handler Frankie Adams and Eros arrived at about 7:45 a.m., beginning a random search of the parking lot about 30 minutes later, Whiteley said.

"The dog indicated on a Chevrolet pickup truck, driven by a male juvenile," Whiteley said.

The student, he said, was contacted and brought to the truck, which was unlocked.

"What appeared to be numerous bags of marijuana, packaged for sale, was found as a result of the search," Whiteley said.

"Also found was a prescription bottle, [which] had what appeared to be Xanax and hydrocodone" pills inside, Whitely said.

By about 9:45 a.m., Detective Corey Mitchell said, the search had moved inside to the gymnasium and locker rooms.

Based on what was found in the truck, school officials will determine what discipline the student will be facing, according to high school principal Scot Young.

If the student is found to have been in possession of the drugs, there is an automatic 10-day suspension from school for a first offense. If the student was distributing the drugs, he could be suspended for 180 days or expelled.