Sachem Student Arrested for Drug Possession

A student at Sachem High School North was arrested for possession of marijuana during a canine drug sweep of lockers at the school Thursday morning, according to Suffolk County Police.

Police said at the request of the administration at Sachem North, officers from the Fourth Precinct Crime Section and Canine Section conducted a canine drug sweep of lockers at the school at approximately 9 a.m.

During the sweep, while working with Police Officer William Krolikiewicz, canine Bema displayed a distinct change in body language and breathing and began to scratch at a locker, police said.

A hand search was conducted by school security and marijuana and drug paraphernalia were discovered in a locker belonging to a 16-year-old male student. 

The student was charged with Unlawful Possession of Marijuana and will appear in court at a later date.

According to Sachem North Principal John Dolan, only a limited amount of personnel in the school knew about the canine sweeps.

“We kept it very quiet,” he said. “We didn’t want to share the information with anyone until it happened.”

The canine unit traveled through the halls of the building and walked past classrooms, faculty rooms and lockers.

“We don’t want drugs anywhere near our kids,” Dolan said. “One student unfortunately made a bad decision. The school is there to help. If you come forward, we can work with you, but if we catch you like that, you’re going to be arrested.”

Dolan said the school has a strong relationship with the police department.

“We support the police,” he said. “I like it when they come into the building. If you’re going to bring any illegal substance or anything that can hurt anybody on campus, you’re going to get arrested.”

For several years, Sachem has enlisted the help of Suffolk Police and their canines, according to Sachem Superintendent James Nolan.

“One of our Board of Education goals in to provide our students and staff members with a safe environment in which they can learn and work,” Nolan said. “The dogs have certainly helped because these unfortunate situations have been few. Periodically, the Suffolk County Police Department brings the dogs to our schools and they walk the buildings allowing the dogs to use their extraordinary sense of smell to find drugs or related items.”

Nolan said the district does its best to educate students on the outcomes of drug use and, “have incredibly resourceful folks on staff to help those in need.”

“I am extremely proud of our students and the healthy choices they make on a daily basis,” he said. “Every now and then a student does not make the best decision and there are certainly consequences that come with those poor choices.”