Student Arrested During K-9 Narcotics Sweep at Ridge High School

It was an unlucky day for one Ridge High School student, who was arrested for drug possession after K-9 units from the Bernards Township Police Department swept the Ridge High School on Friday, Feb. 13.

The sweep was conducted as part of an effort to encourage Ridge High School students to stay off drugs, Bernards Police Captain Mike Shimsky reports.

K-9 teams checked portions of the interior of the high school, targeting main hallway lockers, a large study hall, and the student parking lot after the administration placed the building into “shelter in place,” Bernards Police Captain Mike Shimsky stated.

No classrooms were entered and teachers were allowed to continue their instruction. The “shelter in place” lasted approximately 2 hours. As a result, one arrest was made for possession of a controlled dangerous substance.

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The Board of Education utilized this K-9 sweep as a measure to ensure that the safety and well-being of our students are preserved, according to Captain Shimsky. The objective of this operation was to deter students from bringing controlled dangerous substances to the school and to impress the message of law enforcement and the Board of Education’s stance on zero-tolerance on illegal drugs and drug abuse.

The Bernards Township Board of Education will continue to cooperate with local law enforcement and utilize every resource to ensure that Bernards Township remains a drug-free school and deters future contraband.

The Bernards Township Board of Education will hold a meeting on Feb. 23 at the William Annin Middle School to address any parental concerns. As part of that meeting, the Bernards Township Police Department in conjunction with the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office will be present to answer concerns.

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The Bernards Township Board of Education in cooperation with the Bernards Township Police Department, in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding regarding illegal substances, conducted the K-9 narcotics sweep of Ridge High School.

The Board of Education and the Bernards Township Police Department were privileged to have the support of the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office and K-9 teams from the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office, the Morris County Sherriff’s Office, the Warren Township Police Department and the New Jersey State Police. The Board of Education and the Bernards Township Police Department extend the sincerest gratitude to all of these assisting agencies whose support made this operation possible.

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