2008 Woodie Awards
OPD arrests 16 students for drug charges
Caroline Briggs
Issue date: 3/4/08 Section: Front Page
The Oxford Police Department (OPD) released reports Monday of eight drug-related search warrants served at off-campus residences late February, resulting in 19 arrests, 16 of which were Miami University students.
According to the police reports, from Feb. 15 to Feb. 28, eight separate residences were entered by Oxford police officers and searched on suspicion of drugs.
Sgt. Jim Squance of the Oxford Police Department (OPD) said the reporting officers found numerous cases of drugs and paraphernalia in the different houses. Of the 19 individuals charged, 22 felonies resulted. Some of these individuals face multiple felonies, with such charges as possession of cocaine and trafficking of drugs.
"(OPD is) sending a clear message to the Oxford community," Squance said. "The possession and consumption of drugs is illegal and if you are participating in these activities, there are prices to be paid."
Squance also said that among items confiscated during the month of February in warrant searches, $11,000 found in cash will be subject to narcotics forfeiture to OPD. Squance also said the OPD's Directed Patrol Unit and the Special Response Team (SRT) collected information and executed search warrants during the month of February for numerous off-campus residences, although the exact number of total warrants served has not been released.
Twelve total police reports related to drugs have been released during the month of February, but Squance said more are yet to come. Squance said investigating officers will continue to follow all leads on the yet unreleased cases before the reports become public.
Squance said Oxford police do not believe the presence of drugs is any worse here than at other universities in Ohio. According to Squance, the possession and trafficking of drugs in Oxford is less of a problem than at schools such as Bowling Green State University and Ohio University.
"We don't have any major drug dealers in town," Squance said. "(But) we're concerned about the high-risk activity among students, not only drug abuse, but the over-consumption of alcohol. We know alcohol is easily obtained in town (by underage individuals). We hope drugs are not as easily obtained (by residents)."
According to the police reports, from Feb. 15 to Feb. 28, eight separate residences were entered by Oxford police officers and searched on suspicion of drugs.
Sgt. Jim Squance of the Oxford Police Department (OPD) said the reporting officers found numerous cases of drugs and paraphernalia in the different houses. Of the 19 individuals charged, 22 felonies resulted. Some of these individuals face multiple felonies, with such charges as possession of cocaine and trafficking of drugs.
"(OPD is) sending a clear message to the Oxford community," Squance said. "The possession and consumption of drugs is illegal and if you are participating in these activities, there are prices to be paid."
Squance also said that among items confiscated during the month of February in warrant searches, $11,000 found in cash will be subject to narcotics forfeiture to OPD. Squance also said the OPD's Directed Patrol Unit and the Special Response Team (SRT) collected information and executed search warrants during the month of February for numerous off-campus residences, although the exact number of total warrants served has not been released.
Twelve total police reports related to drugs have been released during the month of February, but Squance said more are yet to come. Squance said investigating officers will continue to follow all leads on the yet unreleased cases before the reports become public.
Squance said Oxford police do not believe the presence of drugs is any worse here than at other universities in Ohio. According to Squance, the possession and trafficking of drugs in Oxford is less of a problem than at schools such as Bowling Green State University and Ohio University.
"We don't have any major drug dealers in town," Squance said. "(But) we're concerned about the high-risk activity among students, not only drug abuse, but the over-consumption of alcohol. We know alcohol is easily obtained in town (by underage individuals). We hope drugs are not as easily obtained (by residents)."
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rc
posted 3/04/08 @ 12:56 PM EST
:,(
L
posted 3/05/08 @ 12:17 PM EST
wow..
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