Area law enforcement conducted K9 drug sniff searches inside Cowley County schools last week.
According to a news release from the Arkansas City Police Department, the announced searches were conducted on Oct. 18 in partnership with Ark City High School and middle school.
K9 officers searching were from the Cowley County Sheriff’s Office, Harper Police Department, and Harper County Sheriff’s Office.
The K9s were divided up and conducted an “Open Area Drug Sniff,” the ACPD said. The K9s were all on leads during the search on the east, stadium, and facility parking lots of Ark City High School.
Authorities then moved into the high school and divided up again. The K9s conducted drug sniffs in six classrooms. The school administration advised students to leave all belongings inside the classroom, and students exited the classroom and lined up along the wall.
The K9 handlers then deployed the K9s inside the classroom. The K9s were on leads during the drug sniffs.
K9s also conducted a drug sniff in the high school sports locker rooms.
Overall, there were seven K9 indications, and all took place in the parking lots. One student was issued a citation for tobacco violation, and one student was arrested for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, where the student was given a citation and released.
The K9s then went to the Ark City Middle School, where the K9s conducted drug sniffs on the student lockers. There were no cases reported at the middle school.
Other schools included Winfield High School and middle school, along with Udall and Burden high schools. No findings were reported for those schools.
