http://www.detnews.com/2004/schools/0402/22/c06-70811.htm
Sunday, February 22, 2004
Sunday, February 22, 2004
Educator admits he planted drugs, cops say
Assistant principal said he hoped student would be expelled for marijuana
Associated Press
SOUTH HAVEN ? An assistant high school principal is being investigated after police say he admitted to planting marijuana in a student?s locker.
Police say Pat Conroy told them earlier this month that he placed the marijuana in the male student?s locker at South Haven High School last year because he suspected the student was a drug dealer. Conroy told police he was trying to get the boy expelled.
But the plan failed because a police drug dog didn?t find the contraband during a school search, according to The Herald-Palladium of St. Joseph.
The Van Buren County prosecutor?s office is reviewing the case to see if the assistant principal could be charged with possession of marijuana.
Conroy said he had ?lost his perspective? and had done something ?stupid, arrogant and unethical,? according to a police report. But he stressed to police that he planted evidence only once.
After Conroy told police his story, they searched his office Feb. 9 and found a drawer filled with packets of suspected marijuana and assorted pills, the police report said. He was placed on administrative leave that day, said Superintendent Dave Myers, who read a statement at a school board meeting.
Conroy told police he had been collecting the drugs, which he said had been confiscated from students, ever since he came to the high school in August 1999.
He said he kept the drugs in his office so they could be used at student expulsion hearings in front of the school board to show as evidence.
But school board President Ed Bocock, who has been on the board since Conroy joined the district staff, said he never saw drugs displayed at any student expulsion hearing he attended.
?Those drugs are supposed to be given to the police,? he said.
Assistant principal said he hoped student would be expelled for marijuana
Associated Press
SOUTH HAVEN ? An assistant high school principal is being investigated after police say he admitted to planting marijuana in a student?s locker.
Police say Pat Conroy told them earlier this month that he placed the marijuana in the male student?s locker at South Haven High School last year because he suspected the student was a drug dealer. Conroy told police he was trying to get the boy expelled.
But the plan failed because a police drug dog didn?t find the contraband during a school search, according to The Herald-Palladium of St. Joseph.
The Van Buren County prosecutor?s office is reviewing the case to see if the assistant principal could be charged with possession of marijuana.
Conroy said he had ?lost his perspective? and had done something ?stupid, arrogant and unethical,? according to a police report. But he stressed to police that he planted evidence only once.
After Conroy told police his story, they searched his office Feb. 9 and found a drawer filled with packets of suspected marijuana and assorted pills, the police report said. He was placed on administrative leave that day, said Superintendent Dave Myers, who read a statement at a school board meeting.
Conroy told police he had been collecting the drugs, which he said had been confiscated from students, ever since he came to the high school in August 1999.
He said he kept the drugs in his office so they could be used at student expulsion hearings in front of the school board to show as evidence.
But school board President Ed Bocock, who has been on the board since Conroy joined the district staff, said he never saw drugs displayed at any student expulsion hearing he attended.
?Those drugs are supposed to be given to the police,? he said.
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