Poplar Bluff high school student accused of selling marijuana-laced cookies on campus

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- A Poplar Bluff High School student was arrested Wednesday afternoon for allegedly selling marijuana-laced cookies to another student.

At about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, school officials contacted school resource officer Andy Cleaveland regarding "illegal narcotics being purchased at the senior high school," said Poplar Bluff deputy chief Jeff Rolland.

During the ensuing investigation, Rolland said, a 15-year-old male student "related he had purchased marijuana-laced cookies from another student, who was identified as Taylor Christopher Michel."

Rolland said Michel and the juvenile "had a conversation the day before about the possibility of Michel bringing marijuana-laced cookies."

Michel and the student, Rolland said, allegedly met on campus Wednesday morning and then went to Michel's locker "where the purchase was made."

Rolland said contact was made with Michel, who was "advised of his Constitutional rights and agreed to speak to the school resource officer.

"Under Miranda, Taylor Michel admitted to selling two marijuana-laced cookies to the 15-year-old, white male juvenile."

Michel, 17, of the 2300 block of Meadows Road was arrested on suspicion of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, distribution of a controlled substance to a minor and possession of fewer than 35 grams of marijuana.

The possession charge, Rolland said, stems from Michel admitting to possessing the marijuana-laced cookies and bringing them to school.

Rolland said Michel was booked and released per Wade Pierce, who is acting as special Butler County prosecutor, pending review of the case by the prosecutor's office.

Police Chief Danny Whiteley said the investigation is ongoing and further arrests could be made.

"We just had a meeting with superintendent Chris Hon, high school principal Michael Kiehne and junior high principal Scott Kuse the other day to discuss the upcoming school year, and in particular drug and criminal enforcement in the school system," Whiteley said.

It is Whiteley's understanding the school board adopted a new policy regarding the sale and possession of drugs on the campuses, and in doing so, school officials are making a "stronger statement that they are going to do their best to keep illegal controlled substances off of school campuses."

While Hon couldn't discuss Michel individually, he said, the school officials will follow the district's new drug policy, which was approved in the spring by the school board.

"We definitely strengthened our policies toward drug possession and distribution," Hon said.

Under the previous policy, possession or being under the influence, as well as purchase or distribution of a controlled substance, could result in suspensions of 10 to 180 days, Hon said. "It was strengthened to 45 to 180 days," he said.

Another change, according to Hon, allows for an "alternate route" for the first possession offense.

The student could be suspended for a minimum of 45 days or choose the alternate route, which requires them to admit to the offense, Hon said.

Under the alternate route, Hon said, the student can be suspended for 10 days and then comes back to in-school suspension for 10 days.

The student, Hon said, also would have to agree to random drug screens and complete a "prescribed drug prevention treatment (program), which we're working through right now."

With the district's more stringent drug policy, as well as cooperation from the police department and its "drug dog visits, we're very serious about school being a safe place to be," Hon said.

Whiteley agreed.

"With the proactive stance of the school system and law enforcement, it's impossible that kids can't be aware of the consequences of being involved in these types of activities that can impact the rest of their lives," Whiteley said. "It doesn't only affect the students, but also their parents and siblings."

Pertinent address:

Poplar Bluff, MO