Arrests Total Five

Arrests Total Five

Drug abuse and crime

A newspaper article by Michael Mello detailing the events of a police search warrant conducted on dorm rooms in Madison Hall on Mary Washington College's campus.

Mello, Michael A.

Mello, Michael. "Arrests Total Five." The Bullet (VA).

HIST 298, University of Mary Washington

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300dpi

English

Fredericksburg, VA

In addition to facing criminal charges in Fredericksburg City Court for possession of marijuana, the five Mary Washington College students arrested in connection with last Saturday's raid of Madison Hall will be subject to an Administrative Hearing before MWC President Prince B. Woodard. Four of the five men have also been suspended from the College; the suspension will remain in effect until the Administrative Hearing, according to Woodard.
     The drug raid, unprecedented in Mary Washington College's history, occurred on March 24 at approximately 8:00 p.m. The desk aide on duty at the time said that "the side door to the dorm opened; the door had been locked, so the police must have had keys. Then about eight cops came running in. Two went into a room on the first floor, and the others went upstairs."
     One of the students who was arrested said that he "heard a knock on the door. I answered it and there were four cops; they showed me a search warrant and came into the room. Then they sat me down and read me my rights. At that point, a State Policeman from Hanover County searched my room. They didn't find any pot, only twelve seeds and a bong. Then they took me to the station and charged me with possession of marijuana and paraphenalia. I never made any statements implying that I even knew those things were in my room." The next day, this student was informed that he had been suspended from the College pending an Administrative Hearing.
     Four students were arrested in the March 24 raid. One was charged with possession of marijuana and paraphanalia. Two were charged only with possession of marijuana. One was charged in Juvenile Court because he was under 18 years old and hence was considered a juvenile under Virginia law. A fifth student was arrested on March 26 and charged with possession of marijuana and paraphanalia. All five have been released from police custody, without bond, on their own recognicence.
     No precise cataloguing of the material evidence seized in the raid is possible at this time. Some is still being analyzed by the police laboratory in Richmond.
     The four students arrested in the March 24 raid have been suspended from the College by MWC President Prince B. Woodard, pending an Administrative Hearing. All five were arraigned in General District Court on March 27. Two of the students were arrested by state policemen. The others were arrested by campus security officers or city policemen.
     The Student Handbook provides that the possession and use of marijuana is a violation of the College regulations as well as an infraction of federal and state laws: "Violations of these rules may result in suspension or expulsion from the College, as well as prosecution by the civil authorities" (p.31) The Handbook further provides that "if the College authorities have reasonable cause to believe that a College rule is being violated in a a manner which prejudices the proper and efficient operation of the College or the welfare of the student body generally, the College authorities may inspect the student's room for the purpose of investigating the violation and enforcing the College's rules. If there is reasonable ground for belief that the violation is taking place, the search is necessary for the investigation of the violation and the enforcement of the rule, and action against the offender is limited to administrative procedures as distinguished from criminal proceedings. No search warrant would be required.
     "The Dean of Student Services accompanied by the Residence Hall Director and a student hall official should participate in such a search. The College police may assist in such a search.
     "If the search is to be made for the purpose of investigating a violation of the criminal law as opposed to a College rule, a search warrant must be obtained even though actual prosecution may not be contemplated." (p.54)
     The cases of the five who were charged in General District Court should come to trial in Fredericksburg sometime in early June. In the meantime, four of the five involved have been suspended from MWC by President Woodard. When asked for his reasons, Woodard said that "it would not be appropriate for them to remain on campus until the Administrative Hearing." The Hearing has been scheduled for April 3.
     According to the Student Handbook, "the purpose of the Administrative Hearing is to provide the President with a full account of the circumstances and facts involved. The hearing is not a judicial proceeding . . . When all parties have presented their facts, the President shall adjourn the hearing, and as soon thereafter as possible, arrive at his decision.
     "The Board of Visitors has charged the President of the College with the responsiblity for student discipline and the regulation of the various aspects of student life at the College. The President has delegated to the Student Association authority for supervising many phases of student life, including the formulation and enforcement of mutually-agreed-upon regulations. There are other regulations, however, for which the administration of the College must maintain primary responsiblity for enforcing. In addition, violations of local, State, and Federal laws are subject to criminal prosecution by these bodies." (pp.26-7)
     President Woodard told a meeting of Madison residents on March 26 that he had known the Saturday search was going to occur before it actually happened. When asked why these particular rooms were singled out, the President said, "I don't know. It was their (the police's) investigation. I hope they have more facts than I do."

Newspaper

Manning, Jack

Williams, Megan