Two Busted in Conestoga High School-Related Drug Sting
A student who got sick at Conestoga High School and text messages lead to arrests of suspected drug dealers at an Upper Main Line SEPTA station.
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It's a drug bust story that starts with a student getting sick on drug-laced food and ends with text messages that led investigators to two accused drug dealers.
According to a press release from Tredyffrin Police, a student at Conestoga High School got sick after eating (unspecified) drug-laced food last Thursday, May 17. That incident led to an investigation into the source of the drugs. According to police, a phone number then led detectives to set up a drug buy via text message.
On Friday, May 18, Tredyffrin an undercover officer contacted the suspected drug dealer and spoke about prices and times for a meet. Detectives were then directed by text messages to a car in the parking lot of the Daylesford Train Station.
Tredyffrin Police say when Detective Brian Hughes and Officer Joseph Butler got to the car, they "saw a bag (of) marijuana in plain view of both subjects."
Justin Mendenhall, 19, of Exton and Katelyn Anne Jennings, 20, of Burgoyne Court in Wayne were arrested.
Mendnehall and Jennings were arraigned Friday night on charges including:
- Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance ( Felony)
- Possession of a Controlled or Counterfeit Substance (Misdemeanor)
- Criminal Conspiracy (Felony)
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Criminal Use of a Communications Facility (Felony)
Mendenhall was held on $5,000 bail but was released from the Chester County Jail after posting (the standard) 10 percent in cash. Jennings was releaed on $5,000 undecured bond, which means she would only have to pay the bail if she fails to show up for the case when it comes to court.
Mendnehall and Jennings are scheduled for a preliminary hearing Wednesday morning in District Court 15 in Devon.
Tredyffrin Police Superintendent Anthony Giaimo says the arrests send an important message. “The Tredyffrin Township Police Department wishes to send a very strong message to those who sell illegal drugs, especially to our kids…. we have zero tolerance. Those who wish to continue in this course of action do so at their own risk of arrest and incarceration. We pursue these cases to the fullest extent of the law.”
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Mary Murphy
1:31 pm on Monday, May 21, 2012
How did the drugs get in the food? What are the police and the school doing to prevent that from happening again?
Bob Byrne
2:08 pm on Monday, May 21, 2012
Mary, that is a great one question, and one that I have been trying to get answered.
From what I can gather I think the food was brought into the school that way. I am still trying to get full details on the what the drugs were used in, but it did appear to be anything in the cafeteria or other school provided food service.I will update the story as soon as I can get it confirmed.
cast4
3:06 pm on Monday, May 21, 2012
Why did the subject who made the pot laced food not get charged?
Bob Byrne
2:02 pm on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Hi Cast4: Excellent question and one I asked police on Monday.
I'm told the students involved are facing serious consequences but because they are juveniles the records would not be available to the news media. According to the charging documents reviewed by TE Patch on Wednesday morning the student who got sick was 15. According to the Affidavit of Probable Cause filed with the court the 15 year old also reported he had ingested marijuana. Because of his age I don't have access to the case records but based on what the Tredyffrin Police Chief has said just this week about his department's "zero tolerance policy" on illegal drugs it's a pretty good bet that he will be prosecuted to the proverbial "fullest extent of the law." Of course for juvenile offenders that may not look like the case against the two suspects arrested Friday at the Daylesford Train Station.
Hailstails21
3:20 pm on Monday, May 21, 2012
My kid sister was in school when this happened. She told me that her friend was the one who got sick. She said that the food was home made fire crackers. I googled them and their a peanut butter like cookie with pot cooked into it. Very strong. The kids sold the cookies in school saying it was for "charity" and that's why her friend bought it.
TE Troll
8:20 pm on Monday, May 21, 2012
Selling pot is illegal, giving an unsuspecting kid a pot cookie is objectively reprehensible. If that was the case (probably a lie, kids do stupid things) the person should get in a lot of trouble.
As an alumnus(06) of 'Stoga, I can say that the stoners were much more well behaved in my day, some were even productive class leaders. Ever since the removal of Floor Hockey specific gym class, their behavior has steadily declined. I suspect that they have been lacking an outlet for their competive spirit and have resorted to stupid one-upsmanship like this latest stunt. If the administration wanted to keep their students safe(they don't) they would bring back Floor Hockey Gym and return the school-wide tournament to its former glory.
fred
6:47 pm on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
What! They got rid of floor hockey! That was the greatest class ever, I actually gave up a free period my senior year (01) to take a second floor hockey class.
Oh some kid got high at school... not really new news just glad they didn't have blogging back in my day.
cast4
10:08 pm on Monday, May 21, 2012
Agree completely. Floor Hockey class at Stoga was awesome.
Christine Johnson
10:38 pm on Monday, May 21, 2012
I emailed REACH warning them about kids in Conestoga eating these "firecrackers" back in September. Never heard back. Graham crackers, peanut butter & weed. Kids eat them while at school.
Gilligan
7:49 am on Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Stick with the Chicken Pot Pie
anonymous
2:43 pm on Tuesday, May 22, 2012
The kids did not sell them saying it was for "charity" they made them at home then ate them at school it's completely ridiculous a couple of high schoolers getting high is "news" these days. The world is messed up.
anonymous 2
8:26 am on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
You're right anonymous. A couple of high schoolers getting high should not be the news. What should be the news is how drug use and sales are rampant in our schools and it's not just marijuana, but harder, more dangerous drugs including perscription drugs coming from the medicine cabinets of their parents, grandparents, etc. Time for the schools, police, media, local governments to start speaking the truth and stop worrying about school and community reputation.