Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for January 16, 2008 BUSTED IN POPLAR BLUFF

The most STUNning part of this article for me is the last sentence...where it says "may"!

Police Find Stun Gun in School

By: CJ Cassidy

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. - You wouldn't break the law if you bought a stun gun online or in a store, but how would you feel if someone brought one into your child's school?

Stun guns are not firearms, but they are still weapons, and you can't take weapons into schools.

In fact, police and school leaders in Poplar Bluff say they're glad they found the weapon before someone got hurt.

"You have to look at why someone's carrying a stun gun. In this case, a child at school, very alarming. He was also carrying illegal substances, marijuana, and that leads one to believe the stun gun could have been used in a criminal nature," said Deputy Chief of Police, Jeff Rolland.

Following up on a tip, Poplar Bluff High's school resource officer says he found the stun gun and marijuana in Martell Anders' gym bag.

"I was very surprised. It was something I didn't expect," he said.

Offiicer Jessie Snow says the stun gun he found in Anders' bag is four times the voltage of his police issue taser.

"The difference is you don't have barbs come out, nothing that shoots out," Snow explained.

Martell Anders says he doesn't own the stun gun. He says he was holding it for someone else, and forgot it was in his bag.

Still, school leaders say they can't afford to take any chances.

"What runs through your mind is what could have happened, and maybe it could have been very unsafe for our students," Asst. Superintendent Chris Hon said.

He adds authorities already use security cameras to monitor school buildings. He also relies on student tips like the one in this case.

"We have to take care of each other," he said.

Martell Anders faces charges of possession of marijuana and carrying a concealed weapon.

In the meantime, school leaders say they have policies in place to deal with problems like this, that may include suspension and even expulsion.