Potomac student flees after attempted drug search
DUMFRIES — A Potomac High School student nearly struck a security officer with his vehicle Wednesday morning while trying to flee during an attempted drug search, Prince William County police said Thursday.
Larry Lee Waite Jr., 18, of 2028 Cherry Hill Road in Dumfries, faces charges of possession with the intent to distribute marijuana on school property and reckless driving after police found an undisclosed amount of marijuana, a smoking device, a box of plastic bags and a scale in his car outside of the school at 3401 Four Year Trail, said Detective Dennis Mangan, a police spokesman.
“Security personnel at the school received a tip that [Waite] was possessing and distributing marijuana in the school,” Mangan said. “He consented to let them search the vehicle, but when they got outside, he dropped his books, jumped in the vehicle and tried to drive away.”
In the process, he barely missed striking a security guard, Mangan said. School officials ultimately stopped Waite and detained him until police arrived.
Irene Cromer, a spokeswoman for Prince William County schools, said that the district has a zero-tolerance policy when dealing with narcotic offenders.
In cooperation with the school system, county police conduct unannounced narcotic sweeps in schools using drug-sniffing dogs; recent searches in Brentsville, Woodbridge and Hylton high schools have not resulted in any arrests.
Waites bond information and court date were not provided by police.