Delores L. Walker, Free Press Reporter

On Friday, July 11, five youth, all under the age of 16 drove from Taylor County into Lafayette County and made a quick stop at the pay phone near Hamlin Brothers’ Station on SR 27.



Most folks that happened to glance their way probably thought they were a group of teenagers out for a night of healthy fun on the week-end… but the type of fun they were planning did not escape the watchful eye of Lafayette County Deputy Lance Walker.



According to the report filed by Walker he observed the teenagers and made the decision to check the situation a little bit closer. As he approached the vehicle it was obvious to him that the five were attempting to hide something.



Later findings would prove that the teenagers had more to hide than the fact that not one of them was a licensed driver. Since they were outside the vehicle when Walker arrived and he had not seen who was driving, he questioned them but no one would admit to being the driver of the vehicle.



Sheriff McCall arrived at the scene and said a preliminary search of the 16-year-old male revealed that he was in possession of drugs. “He suggested since he only had a small amount on him that he would not be arrested but, just as quickly another commented, in this county it’s “zero tolerance, we’re busted.” McCall said.



The five were taken to the Lafayette County Jail where the 15-year-old female was searched. The search revealed a considerable amount of drugs and drug paraphernalia.



The two juveniles, a 16-year-old male and a 15-year-old female were arrested and charged with possession of cocaine, possession of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia.



The parents were contacted and arrived at the jail where the five were released into their custody.



According to the latest statistics released by the U.S. Department of Justice this is becoming the norm for a large percentage of those under the age of 18. Instead of making plans for movies, dinner out or the school-related sports activities a whopping 144% increase of juveniles will be involved in drug abuse and one study shows that during the last 10 years there has been a 291% increase in the rate of young people incarcerated because of drug involvement in general.



The impact their activities have on a community are far-reaching. Families struggle with the million questions that arise when their family member falls prey to the drug dealer’s lure.



The county costs mount as they house the offenders, some month after month. The judicial system must be called upon time after time as these offenders pass through the court system repeatedly.



And, ultimately, unless the path of destruction is halted, the drugs destroy the God-given life of a young person that was born with purpose and meaning, only to be snuffed out by an empty promise that could result in death.



The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) numbers tell the story of the magnitude of an estimated 2.5 million arrests of persons under 18. Therefore, when arrest statistics show that law-enforcement agencies made an estimated 198,400 arrest of young people for drug abuse violations, it means that a drug abuse violation was the most serious charge in these 198,400 arrests. A closer look at the numbers show that in many cases these individuals are arrested more than once during the year.



A community is vulnerable to the drug culture in several ways. For example, the FBI reports that persons under 18 accounted for 25% of all robbery arrests. And of course the list includes murder, rape, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny-theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson.



Sheriff McCall has said many times that drug use and/or sale of drugs is the root cause of all the listed crimes most of the time.



“That is reason enough to enforce “Zero Tolerance,” McCall said. “The amount is insignificant, if you are using or dealing drugs you will be arrested in Lafayette County.”