22 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS BUSTED DURING “DITCH PARTY”

RELEASE DATE / TIME : 04-21-11 11:20 AM

EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS-  Early Wednesday morning 04/20 at 10:48 am, Sheriff’s Deputies were checking 2 juveniles in the 7900 block of Keily, El Paso County, Texas, when they were flagged down by a Truant Officer for the Canutillo School District who was near the area. The Truant Officer provided authorities information on the possible whereabouts of several juveniles who were absent from Canutillo High School without authorization. Deputies checked the property & heard several noises emitting from within a building located within the property. Deputies located over 20 juveniles within the building in 2 separate rooms & also noticed a distinct smell of burning marijuana coming from inside.

While searching for more juveniles, Sheriff’s Deputies located two baggies & a rolled paper with marijuana inside. Deputies also located several prescription pills on site.

None of the juveniles claimed ownership of the found narcotics. Canutillo ISD District Officials working closely with Sheriff’s Deputies identified each of the juveniles. Arrangements made through the Canutillo Independent School District had the majority of the 22 juveniles transported back to school by a district bus, under the supervision of the Truant Officer. The Non-Canutillo ISD students were turned over their parents who were called to the scene. Deputies issued citations to several of the juveniles for possession of tobacco products (Case #’s 2011-02311 / 2011-02308).

22 Juveniles were located (All ages ranged from 14-17):

• 15 juvenile males / 7 juvenile females were found on the premises

• 9 cited for Possession of Tobacco Products

• 4 oz. of Marijuana were recovered at the scene

• 54 light orange colored pills identified as Hydrochlorothiazide and Lisinopril (Prescription medications - an ACE inhibitor controlled substance used for hypotension and water retention).

INVESTIGATION CONTINUES

NO OTHER INFORMATION WILL BE RELEASED AT THIS TIME 

The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office in March of 2001 was the first Sheriff’s Office in the   State of Texas to be Internationally Accredited from CALEA and is now the recipient of the First CALEA Tri-Arc award in Texas (4^th in the Nation) to have accreditations in: Law Enforcement, Communications, Training Academy