Two Polk County Students Face Drug Charges

LAKELAND, FL — Two 14-year-old Polk County high school students were charged with drug offenses this week after sheriff's deputies discovered prescription medication in their backpacks, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

The two boys attend George Jenkins High School and had no prior criminal histories, explained Scott Wilder of the sheriff's office. The two boys and two 15-year-old girls at the school were taken to Lakeland Regional Health for suspected exposure to MDMA, which is also known by its street name, ecstasy.

Wilder said both boys and one of the girls tested positive for amphetamines. One of the boys also tested positive for benzos, which is prescribed for anxiety. The remaining girl did not test positive for the drug.

A spokesman for the Polk County School District told Patch that the student code of conduct prohibits the use, possession and distribution of illegal drugs on school grounds.

"We work closely with our law enforcement partners to investigate any reports that this is not being followed," the spokesman said, adding that district officials informed parents of students of the incident.

"Any discipline will be handled in accordance with the student code of conduct," the spokesman added.

Wilder said that the drugs neither boy had prescriptions for the drugs found in their backpacks.

Deputies discovered a baggie containing 4.5 Alprazolam pills in one of the backpacks and four pills in the other. One of the boys offered an explanation, according to Wilder.

"He said that he and the other boy found the pills along with the small crystalline rock in a baggie on the side of the road several days ago and split the pills up between them," Wilder said.

Wilder said that the four students were taken to the hospital after ingesting what was believed to be the drug ecstasy in a water bottle.

"During the investigation it was determined that a 14-year-old Lakeland boy had a water bottle filled with juice containing an unknown type drug dissolved in it and provided it to another 15-year-old female student from Lakeland who drank some of the juice knowing the boy put an unknown type drug in it," said Wilder.

He said students told deputies that they did not know what type of drug was dissolved in the juice.

"The boy drank some of the juice as well," Wilder said. "The liquid in the bottom of the bottle later tested positive for MDMA."

One of the girls told police she handled the bottle but did not drink any of the liquid inside.

One boy was charged with possession of MDMA, possession of MDMA with Intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school, possession of Alprazolam and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The other boy was charged with possession of Alprazolam and possession of drug paraphernalia.

"Neither student has been disciplined this year at school," Wilder said.

He added that the girls were not charged.