The arrest of two teenaged brothers charged with selling marijuana to Windham High School students may have come as a surprise to many parents, but students at Windham High School say these drug deals had been going on long before the brothers’ arrest.
“It wasn’t surprising because everyone knew (about the drug deals),” said Bennett Saltus, a sophomore at Windham High School. “It was just a matter of time” before someone got caught.
On May 19, two 16-year-old brothers were arraigned in court. Each brother is charged with more than 10 counts of aggravated trafficking of marijuana, possession of firearms, assault and tampering with a witness.
After getting a tip from a Windham High School student, police searched the brothers’ residence in February and discovered a “marijuana grow operation,” cocaine residue, hypodermic needles, brass knuckles and three handguns – two of which were stolen.
The teens are now under house arrest awaiting their next hearing in court.
Parents respond
Since their arrest, police have interviewed numerous high school students whose names appeared on a drug ledger allegedly found during their investigation of the teens.
Alex Martin, another sophomore at Windham High School, said, since the brothers’ arrest, his father has started asking him more questions about marijuana use by high school students.
“It seems like (the investigation) gives all of us bad reputations, even though it’s not all of us,” Martin said.
This sentiment is echoed by parent Gayle Clarke who believes the teens’ arrest has given Windham High School a “blackmark” that it does not deserve.
“I know that the kids coming through my home aren’t doing drugs or doing alcohol,” Clarke said. “There’s so many ‘together’ kids over there that are great credit to our community.”
Another student who wished to remain anonymous said a majority of students at the school have at least tried marijuana and others have gone on to experiment with prescription medications and psychedelic mushrooms.
But many students say the police investigation of the brothers has put a stop to the supply of marijuana to Windham High School students.
Steve Danzig, substance abuse counselor at Windham High School, said he deals with 70 to 100 students who are struggling with drug or alcohol use. According to national statistics, 10 to 15 percent of high school students use marijuana regularly and it is in the beginning years of high school that students begin experimenting with the drug, he said.
“In that age group, that’s where the heaviest use of alcohol and marijuana is,” Danzig said. “This is when most kids are going to start using. It’s the experimental phase. Oftentimes, alcohol and drugs are an easy way to fit into a crowd.”
While some high school students try marijuana but don’t continue to use regularly, others make a habit of marijuana use which can lead to slipping grades, lack of motivation and conflicts with family members, Danzig said.
John Sawyer, a senior at Windham High School, and his friends Collin Burn and Justin Barr say they don’t use marijuana, but have been aware of drug use and drug deals involving other students ongoing throughout their time at the school.
The presence of School Resource Officer Jeff Smith, a full-time police officer assigned to the school, has changed dynamics and made them feel safer on school grounds.
“I just like having Officer Smith around because he can deal with kids when they get into fights,” Sawyer said.
It was a tip from a student, given to Officer Smith, that led to the police investigation of the brothers for marijuana trafficking. Smith praises that student for having the courage and bravery to step forward. He hopes this case will be an eye opener for many parents and community members.
“The only way to root crime and drugs out of our school and town is for the community to get involved and be witnesses for the police and prosecutors,” Smith said.
School Board member Toby Pennels, and parent of a Windham High School senior, was disappointed, but not shocked by the news of an alleged drug ring operated by two students at the school.
“I don’t think we have the perfect world here in Windham,” Pennels said. “The potential market is there.”
Pennels said the conversation around the dinner table in his house is one of “zero tolerance” for drugs, but he knows high school students are experimenting with drugs in Windham as well as every other community.
“This is going on in communities all around,” Pennels said of the marijuana use by high school students. “I’m just so pleased we support a school resource officer and I think the school played an important part in this possible crime coming to light.”
Students are Windham High School are coming to terms with the arrest of two of their classmates last week on drug trafficking charges. One student, commenting on the arrests said, Send questions/comments to the editors.
