ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, March 8, 1997 TAG: 9703100050
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DIANE STRUZZI
Police charged the youths with misdemeanors, including trespassing and having a beeper at school.
Eight teen-agers were arrested Thursday at Northside High School after police searched their cars and found a loaded handgun and some marijuana.
About 3 p.m. eight teen-agers drove up to Northside High School looking for another student, police said. The seven boys and one girl - who ranged in age from 16 to 18 years old - argued with one of the principals at the school. Police said the teen-agers became combative and would not leave.
A Roanoke County officer at the high school asked for other police units to assist him. Ten police officers responded. The high school and police department are located about a quarter-mile from each other on Northside High School Road in North Roanoke County.
One of the teen-agers allowed police to search his car. A loaded 9mm handgun was found in the car with its serial number scratched off. A drug dog at the scene smelled drugs in the other car. When police searched the vehicle, they said they found about 2.4 ounces of marijuana, packaged in 13 golf-ball size plastic bags.
Police charged the teen-agers with a variety of misdemeanors, including trespassing, possession of a beeper on school grounds and assuming the name of another.
Two Roanoke 18-year-olds - Joseph Brown and Joshua Taylor - were charged with the most serious crimes. Brown faces charges of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, trespassing and possession of a beeper on school grounds. Taylor was charged with possession of a firearm on school grounds, possession of a firearm with its serial number defaced, trespassing and possession of a beeper on school grounds.
LENGTH: Short : 40 linesby CNB