Thursday, September 27th, 2007

Pupil arrested as dogs sniff around Celina schools

By Janie Southard
Photo by Janie Southard/The Daily Standard

Celina High School Assistant Principal Kevin Mast participated in an attack demonstration with K-9 Unit Nick of the Celina City Police Department this morning at the high school after a training team of six dogs and 25 officers checked every locker for prohibited substances. The group then went on to the middle school and Tri Star for the same drug sweep training.

Celina High School, the middle school and Tri Star building were training targets this morning for six drug dogs and about 25 area law enforcement officers. The exercise resulted in the arrest of a high school female for underage possession.
"We had several hits in the high school, meaning there was a residual odor of drugs, but we found no drugs," said Celina Police Chief Dave Slusser, adding it was the residual odor in a vehicle in the student parking lot that led police to a cooler about two-thirds full of beer.
Celina Superintendent Matt Miller confirmed finding the alcohol in the parking lot, but said he could not comment on the arrest as it involves the discipline of a student. He added a tin of snuff also was found in a high school locker.
No hits were made at the middle school or Tri Star building.
"Obviously, we want to stay on top of drugs in our schools," Miller said following the sweep of all lockers this morning. "This kind of exercise helps the police with their K-9 training and helps us with student behavior concerns."
As early classes began this morning, classroom doors at the high school were locked as training teams of cops and dogs began checking every locker in every hallway.
"This is simply routine training for our local officers as well as officers from Michigan and Pennsylvania who are going through the six-week K-9 training (with Al Gill at his dog training facility, Von der Haus Gill German Shepherds)," Celina Police Chief Dave Slusser said. "We also have a lot of officers here from Auglaize County."
At the school were the Celina K-9 unit and some of Gill's dogs, which are from Germany and are trained to take commands only in German. Auglaize County Sheriff's Department has one of Gill's dogs.
Deputy Mike Peterson of the Auglaize County Sheriff's Department put Bandit, a pure black German Shepherd, through his paces down the first floor east hallway.
"(Bandit and I) have been on the road together for about 4 1/2 years. We bought him from Al Gill fully trained for $9,200, and it was a good investment," Peterson said as Bandit finished the lockers without finding anything.
The dog is certified in marijuana, cocaine, crack, methamphetamine and heroin, and he's also trained but not certified in Ecstasy, mushrooms and Kat, a substance currently popular.
Bandit is a passive identifier meaning when he locates the substance he either sits down or lies down and stares at the location. And, he does it time after time for a simple reward.
"All any of the dogs want is to play. They are trained to associate locating a substance with the fact that they can they play with their toy. In Bandit's case, it's a piece of fire hose," Peterson said.
Tennis balls and flexy pipe also are popular toys that are thrown to the dog within seconds of him or her locating a substance.
Bonte, the Shelby County K-9 officer, is the only female in the area.
"Yeah, it's pretty rare to use a female because usually they don't have a high enough drive ... Please, keep in mind I'm only referring to female dogs," Deputy Brad Pleiman of the Shelby County Sheriff's Office quipped following the high school search.
Photo by Janie Southard/The Daily Standard

Deputy Mike Peterson of the Auglaize County Sheriff's Office and his dog, Bandit, check out the lockers in the west wing of the high school's first floor.

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The 3-2 Indians play host to St. John's at Barrenbrugge Park in Midwest Athletic Conference play and the Blue Jays have won two straight after starting the season 0-3.
Friday, 7:30 p.m. Celina Stadium
Last Game: Kenton got six touchdown passes from Trevor Beazley in beating Bath 46-14. ... Celina had trouble stopping the Shawnee running attack, falling 42-20 at Shawnee.
Friday, 7:30 p.m. Panther Stadium
Last Week: Coldwater stopped a long St. Henry drive at the start of the game, then clamped down the rest of the way to make it 11 straight wins over
Friday, 7:30 p.m. H.B. Hole Field
Last Game: The Flyers made it 17 consecutive wins in blowing out Minster 57-0 on Homecoming. ... The Tigers had a solid defensive game, but could not get much offense going in losing 14-7 to St. John's on Saturday night.
Friday, 7:30 p.m. Titan Stadium
Last Game: St. Marys looked a lot better and kept the penalties down in beating Auglaize County rival Wapakoneta 17-9. ... Ottawa-Glandorf became sole holder of the WBL lead in drilling Elida 66-0.
Friday, 7:30 p.m. Booster Field
Last Game: St. Henry's best chance to score came in the first series of the game. After that, the Redskins struggled in losing to Coldwater for the 1
Friday, 7:30 p.m. Memorial Field
Last Game: The Cardinals suffered their seventh straight loss - spanning two seasons - in falling 34-0 to Parkway. ... The Wildcats ran into the Flyer Buzzsaw in losing 57-0 at Booster Field.