One Parent's Nightmare

Recently my fourteen year old son spent a couple of days at home while fending off a case of strep tonsilitis. Needless to say he hadn't beeen getting much sleep and when he got up to go to school he appeared drowsy, and his eyes were bloodshot and red. My wife made a comment to him that he looked like he was "loaded" on something. He assured her that he was just tired. To be fair, he had a few weeks before admitted to having tried marijuana. He also stated that he hadn't used any for a couple of weeks and in fact was trying to stay away from it. Of course, as any concerned parents would do we impressed upon him the potential for disaster this imposed to his life and future as well as the consequences both legal and otherwise should he be caught, (We live in a state where just possessing a seed is a felony). We also had him tested for drugs at one of the local hospitals. Fortunately, the drug test came up clean. We were then placed in a position where we felt we had to trust him that he was making an effort to clean up.

Based on my interviews of the school principal and the police officer involved, the following is what happened when my son arrived at school:
According to these two gentlemen when my son arrived at his first period class a couple of students began joking with him about his appearing to be high. One girl even began spraying him with cologne claiming that he even smelled like he had been smoking weed. Of course this got the attention of his teacher who began angrily questioning him about his alleged drug use. The teacher even stated that he could smell a mixture of marijuana and Axe deodorant on him. He also stated that he could smell an odor of marijuana eminating from the lid to my son's Axe deodorant can, ( I don't know if you've ever smelled Axe deodorant but it has a very pungent and in my opinion noxious odor in and of itself). I later interviewed the girl who allegedly sprayed my son with cologne. According to her this was not what happened. According to her there were four students including my son that were sitting together. Also according to her she made a remark that she thought she had a body odor and supsequently sprayed herself with cologne which prompted the other kids including my son to get out and douse themselves with their own deodorants and colognes.

My son was then sent to the school principal's office and the school resource police officer was summoned. My son was then interrogated repeatedly by his teacher, the principal, and the police officer who all claimed to smell the odor of marijuana mixed with Axe deodorant on him. Throughout the interrogation my son maintained his innocence. The more he denied any wrongdoing the more intense the interrogation became eventually ending with the police officer in question yelling at him. According to all concerned the police officer then stated in a very aggressive manner that "It would be better for him if he just told the truth", to which my son replied "Okay I did it, I smoked some weed on the way to school". When I spoke to my son about this later he told me that he was intimidated by everyone yelling at him and of course terrified of the police officer and his aggressive manner and that he just wanted everyone to stop interrogating him which is why he eventually confessed.

At this time he was searched, placed in handcuffs and arrested for being under the influence of marijuana. He was then marched out of the school in front of his peers, placed in a patrol car and taken to the local jail. In addition, I was informed by the school principal that not only was my son suspended from school but he also would have to appear before the school board regarding possible permanent expulsion.

It is important to note that during the search no evidence of any kind was found and there were no witnesses to his alleged wrongdoing. I was told by both the school principal and the police officer involved that my son did have in his posession a can of Axe deodorant the lid of which smelled of marijuana yet at no time was I presented with this evidence nor at any time was a drug test on my son performed. The only evidence produced was my son's confession which in my opinion was obtained illegally, under duress and coercion, and without the benefit of due process or legal council whatsoever.

Now, lest you think that I am in denial about my son's alleged drug use or am in any way attempting to minimize the problem let me say this: I take these allegations very seriously. In fact when we were first contacted by the police and told that our son had been arrested my wife and I immediately and thoroughly search his room. We found no evidence of drug use of any kind. Irregardless, the very next morning prior to meeting with the school principal I enrolled my son in mental health and drug counseling, (Note: My wife and I had met with his guidance counselor prior to this incident and attempted to enlist the counselor's aid in getting my son some help and well.....guidance. In addition to all this and shortly after retrieving my son from the police station I had a long and serious discussion with my son in which he agreed that because of this incident as well as his potential problem with drug abuse that he needed to immediately make some lifestyle and image changes including losing his previously adopted "skater boy" look, cutting his hair, distancing himself from some of his previous associates, knuckling down at school and generally making an honest effort at getting his life straightened out and back on track.

The next morning after his arrest my son and I met with the school principal. My son by now had cut his hair short, and was wearing more conservative attire. It was then that the school principal gave me his version as to what had transpired. He also informed me that my son had some problems with tardiness, (Of this I was aware and in fact my wife had met with the principal and my son's teacher previously and since then my son had been arriving on time), He also stated that my son had some unexplained abscences, ( My son has never played hooky from school. He may however have neglected to take a note from us explaining his abscence). During this meeting I was left with the distinct impression that

Now having said all of that there are some important questions that have been raised