Suspected Marijuana Deal at Harrison Middle School

police officers came to at around 10:01 a.m. on Thursday for a report that at least one student was in possession of a small amount of marijuana there.

Superintendent Dr. Lawrence C. Korchnak said that a seventh-grade male appeared to sell a "joint" to another seventh-grade male and that both of them were in possession of the marijuana, but Chief Donald R. Dolfi said that his department has not yet determined if both students were in possession.

Dolfi said that a J.E. Harrison teacher observed the believed transaction.

The Whitehall police did not arrest either of the students.

School district officials and the Whitehall police are conducting separate—albeit related—investigations. Both groups can decide whether or not to levy punishments, with the school district falling under state school code and the police department falling under state crimes code.

"The two (investigations) are independent of each other," Dolfi explained.

Neither entity has concluded its investigation yet.

Korchnak said that "a few other students appear to have had drug interactions with this student (believed to be selling the marijuana on Thursday) in the past" and that each of those students was interviewed and searched.

Each student's parents were notified.

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