honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 11:16 a.m., Tuesday, October 21, 2003

Students arrested in marijuana raid

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer

Police today raided an off-campus hangout behind Kaiser High School at 7:45 a.m. and arrested three boys on suspicion of smoking and dealing marijuana.

Two of the boys are 14 years old and the third is 15. All are freshmen at Kaiser High, said Narcotics/Vice Capt. Kevin Lima.

One of the 14-year-old boys was booked as a juvenile on suspicion of second-degree promotion of a detrimental drug. The other two were booked on suspicion of third-degree promotion of a detrimental drug.

All were expected to be released to the custody of their parents or guardians, police said.

Police made the arrests at Kekupua and Pakala streets, where agricultural lots meet a residential neighborhood behind Kaiser High.

Police went to the area before 8 a.m. today and saw about 30 students congregated there. Some were smoking joints and other cigarettes, Lima said.

Three girls smoking cigarettes were taken into custody for the status offense of "injurious behavior" and turned over to Kaiser High School administrators.

Police said neighbors have been complaining about vandalism, loitering and littering.

Kaiser Principal Gail Sugita welcomed today’s police action, although it caught her by surprise.

"We’ve been aware of the back campus activity and have been asking police for assistance," Sugita said.

"We very much appreciate the neighborhood around us caring enough to help us."

Sugita said the school is limited as to how far its jurisdiction extends.

Some parents have challenged the school’s authority to stop smoking at the bus stop in front of the school.

"It’s blatant and they’re getting bolder," Sugita said of the off-campus violations.

Kaiser has an enrollment of 1,034 students, and those causing the problem represent only a small number of the student population, said Sugita.

Reach Rod Ohira at 535-8181 or rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.