Six Texas high school students busted in '21 Jump Street' style sting

PEARLAND, Texas, April 3 (UPI) -- Authorities in Texas said six high school students were arrested on drug charges in an operation that echos the plot of the 21 Jump Street TV show and film.

The Brazoria County Sheriff's Office said it worked together with the Pearland Independent School District to have a deputy enrolled as a high school student at Pearland High School from Aug. 25, 2014, to Dec. 19, 2014, and then at Dawson High School from Jan. 6 of this year until March 27.

The sheriff's office said two juveniles were arrested at Pearland alongside adult student Aaron Coleman, 18. Dawson students Kevin Lambert, 18; Jonathan Gonzales, 17; and Matthew Van Richardson, 18, were also arrested.

Investigators said they seized drugs including cocaine, marijuana, alprazolam and tramadol during the course of the operation.

The arrested students are facing charges including delivery of marijuana, delivery of a controlled substance and delivery of a dangerous drug.

"I appreciate the collaborative efforts of the county and city to safeguard the lives of our students through a combination of law enforcement and preventive measures. It is critical that we remain proactive, vigilant and intolerant with regard to drug offenses affecting our students," Pearland ISD Superintendent John Kelly said in a statement.

The sheriff's office said the Brazoria County Sheriff's Office Narcotics Task Force and the Pearland Police Department participated in the operation.

"School is not a place that you should come in and try to sell your drugs, or come in and buy drugs, you go there to be educated," Sgt. James Brawner of the Brazoria County Sheriff's Office told KPRC-TV.

He said the investigation is continuing.

"There is still ongoing off campus investigations," Brawner said. "We have wrapped up on campus, and now we are moving out into the communities and trying to further it that way."