Middle school arrests on cocaine charges

ROCK HILL, S.C., Sept. 4 (UPI) -- Two South Carolina middle school students were arrested when a police officer discovered them in the school restroom with 4 grams of cocaine, authorities said.

The officer was responding to an anonymous tip a drug deal was taking place Thursday at Rawlinson Road Middle School in Rock Hill, S.C., The Charlotte (N.C.) Observer reported.

He discovered the two boys, ages 13 and 14, with a plastic bag filled with a white powder that field tested positive for cocaine, the newspaper said.

Both teens were arrested and charged with intent to deliver cocaine.

"There is no age limit on somebody dealing or being in possession of drugs," Rock Hill Police Lt. Brad Redfearn said. "On the street a lot of times they use the younger kids to hold the narcotic because they know the adults will get more time than the juveniles."

Rock Hill schools Superintendent Lynn Moody said she was concerned.

"One of the difficulties about it is the seriousness of the charge. We're obviously concerned about their future," Moody said. "At 13 and 14 years old, it's obvious that they're being supplied with that by someone in the community.

"Everything that is part of the community is part of the school," she said. "Students come to school with whatever issues are going on in the community."