Dealing operation busted at KHS

By MIKE FLETCHER
Tribune staff writer

December 05, 2008 11:06 pm

— Kokomo police uncovered a drug-dealing operation at Kokomo High School Thursday and arrested two senior students.
Officer Beth Gunlite, a school resource officer, initiated the investigation Thursday into students trafficking marijuana, pills and other drugs at the high school, 2501 S. Berkley Road, after learning one student, Joseph Osborne, 18, 2223 Saratoga Ave., was bringing pills to the school, according to police reports.
Gunlite then called KPD’s newly founded street crimes unit, which arrived at the school and waited for Osborne to arrive.
As he drove into the parking lot, police were waiting and stopped his vehicle.
Sgt. Jeff McKay said Osborne was found in possession of “Norcos” (hydrocodone), a schedule 3 controlled substance.
Officers say Osborne was distributing the painkillers at the high school. He was arrested on a Class B felony charge of dealing in a schedule 3 controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school and a C felony possession of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school.
Additional information led Gunlite and school officials to 19-year-old Kenshowa Snow, 800 W. Jackson St., who was found in possession of marijuana and an undisclosed amount cash, McKay said.
Snow was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of possession of marijuana and a C felony possession of marijuana with the intent to deal within 1,000 feet of a school.
The KPD Street Crimes Unit was recently formed to lend support to other divisions within the department. The unit consists of eight members and five canines dedicated to drug interdiction, but with the flexibility to assist other divisions of the department in combating street level criminal activity.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation or other criminal activity is asked to contact the Kokomo Police Department hotline at (765) 456-7017, or you may qualify for a cash reward by calling Central Indiana Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS with your anonymous information.