The
10/22/2010, 01:43 PM
Elementary student brings pot to school to turn in his parents (http://www.wbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=13330034#)
By Jeff Rivenbark & Tom Roussey
MATTHEWS, NC (WBTV) - Two parents are facing drug charges after their child took their drugs to school and told a school officer his parents were breaking the law.
WBTV is not releasing the names of the parents or the name of the school to protect the child's identity.
The 11-year-old student is in 5th grade at a an elementary school in Matthews. Police say he brought his parents' marijuana cigarettes to school when he reported them.
Matthews Police say he reported his parents after a lesson about marijuana was delivered by a police officer who is part of the D.A.R.E. program, which teaches kids about the dangers of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco.
"Even if it's happening in their own home with their own parents, they understand that's a dangerous situation because of what we're teaching them," said Matthews Officer Stason Tyrrell. That's what they're told to do, to make us aware."
Tyrrell says the town's D.A.R.E. officer spends time at each of the three elementary schools in Matthews teaching kids to make the right choice when it comes to drugs.
Police arrested the child's 40-year-old father and 38-year-old mother on Thursday.
Both were charged with two misdemeanor counts each of marijuana possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.
They were not jailed and were released on a written promise to appear in court.
"I don't give drugs to my kids," the father told us when we went to his house.
When we asked him how his kid got ahold of his drugs, he replied, "That's no one's business."
Police say both the 11-year old and a sibling have been removed from the parents' house by social services. Police say they are staying with relatives.
By Jeff Rivenbark & Tom Roussey
MATTHEWS, NC (WBTV) - Two parents are facing drug charges after their child took their drugs to school and told a school officer his parents were breaking the law.
WBTV is not releasing the names of the parents or the name of the school to protect the child's identity.
The 11-year-old student is in 5th grade at a an elementary school in Matthews. Police say he brought his parents' marijuana cigarettes to school when he reported them.
Matthews Police say he reported his parents after a lesson about marijuana was delivered by a police officer who is part of the D.A.R.E. program, which teaches kids about the dangers of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco.
"Even if it's happening in their own home with their own parents, they understand that's a dangerous situation because of what we're teaching them," said Matthews Officer Stason Tyrrell. That's what they're told to do, to make us aware."
Tyrrell says the town's D.A.R.E. officer spends time at each of the three elementary schools in Matthews teaching kids to make the right choice when it comes to drugs.
Police arrested the child's 40-year-old father and 38-year-old mother on Thursday.
Both were charged with two misdemeanor counts each of marijuana possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.
They were not jailed and were released on a written promise to appear in court.
"I don't give drugs to my kids," the father told us when we went to his house.
When we asked him how his kid got ahold of his drugs, he replied, "That's no one's business."
Police say both the 11-year old and a sibling have been removed from the parents' house by social services. Police say they are staying with relatives.