Pelham News : drugs

School drug search policy may be revised

Salem Editor — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 20:44:00 GMT

The School Board may revise its policy on drug searches in Pelham schools after concerns were raised about the magnitude of the searches and disruptions caused to students.

During the board’s Wednesday, Jan. 16 meeting, School Board member Linda Mahoney cited the large number of law enforcement agencies that were used when a search was carried out in April at the high school and middle school.

“A little overkill and it wasn’t for anything they found specific,” Mahoney said. “It was scary for these kids. These kids didn’t know what was going on. And that’s what I don’t want to see happen again. It seems like we’re treating our kids guilty until proven innocent.”

Fourteen agencies, including the Pelham Police Department, carried out the searches. A bottle of vodka was found in the car of a 17-year-old boy who allowed administrators to search his car, and marijuana was discovered in the car of a 16-year-old boy after his father permitted a search.

The high school’s fire alarm sounded before the search began, sending students and employees outside.

Drugs searches are typically conducted every year in which dogs “hit” on places where drugs may be located.

Administrators have the right to search lockers. If a dog hits on a car, administrators ask the student for consent to search the vehicle. If the student or car owner refuses to give consent, the matter is turned over to police, according to Dorothy Mohr, school principal.

Dogs are not used to search students.

Mahoney said she is not blind that drugs may be in the high school but said other alternatives that provide a deterrence should be considered, such as having a police officer walk by lockers with a dog once a month.

Student representative Scott Cloutier said once the April search began, no one was concentrating on their school work that day. Instead, they were concentrating on the dogs they could see being used in the parking lot and were worrying if any of their belongings inside the school had been touched.

“To that magnitude, it was an interruption,” he said.

School Board member Eleanor Burton spoke in defense of the searches.

“I don’t think it hurts in this day and age,” she said. “I think we have to protect all the students. If it’s there, we need to find it. I don’t think it hurts to do it once in a while.”

School Board Chairman Bruce Couture said he believes several dogs are used to make the searches go quicker and because there’s a limit to how long each animal is effective.

“I see both sides of the argument, but I certainly think we should always keep ourselves open,” Couture said. “If something is brewing and they know about it and need that force to do it, then I think we should give ourselves that flexibility.”

Superintendent Frank Bass said he and Roxanne Wilson, the assistant superintendent, will review the policy and try to craft a proposed change that would address the concerns they heard during the meeting.

Eight arrested in crack sting

Salem Editor — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 20:33:00 GMT

BY DARRELL HALEN

A Pelham woman is accused of manufacturing crack cocaine in her own home and selling it to customers from Pelham and surrounding communities.

Pelham police said their arrest of Priscilla Champagne, 50, of 14 Hobbs Road, and seven other people is the result of a two-month investigation into the sale, possession and manufacturing of cocaine and crack cocaine in town.

During a surveillance of Champagne’s home, police said, detectives identified several people whom they believed were taking part in drug transactions.

When carrying out a search warrant at Champagne’s home, officers seized a small quantity of cocaine and marijuana and seized several items they believe were used to manufacture cocaine.

Those items included spoons, baking soda, rubbing alcohol, tin foil and small tools, said Lt. Gary Fisher.

Champagne faces two counts of manufacturing crack cocaine, two counts of selling cocaine, sale of crack
cocaine, possession of cocaine, two counts of transporting cocaine and possession of marijuana.

“She’s a street dealer. She’s not moving large quantities but ... she had a clientele in Pelham and in Massachusetts,” Fisher said.

Police said they arrested several of Champagne’s alleged customers in the late evening of Wednesday, Aug. 22, and the early morning of Thursday, Aug. 23., as they left her home.

The following people were arrested: Ezequiel Nieves, 27, Lawrence, Mass., charged with sale of cocaine and resisting arrest. Fisher said police believe Nieves swallowed a quantity of cocaine when he was taken into custody.

Theresa Jutras, 36, Lowell, Mass., charged with possession of crack cocaine, possession of marijuana, transporting crack cocaine, transporting marijuana, and operating with a suspended registration.

Richard Ryder, 53, Lowell, Mass., charged with possession of marijuana.

Peter Contraros, 43, Pelham, charged with driving after revocation.

Michael Desjardins, 36, Dracut, Mass., charged with possession of cocaine, transporting cocaine.

Robert Roy, 57, charged with possession of cocaine.

Donna Lyons, 35, charged with hindering apprehension. Fisher said Lyons gave false information as to who she is. Police believe she is wanted in Boston on warrants.

Police said they are continuing their investigation and expect to make additional arrests and seek more search warrants.

All the suspects will be arraigned Sept. 10 in Salem District Court.

Pelham woman faces more than a dozen drug charges

Salem Editor — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 18:20:00 GMT

BY DARRELL HALEN

A Pelham woman who four years ago was convicted of selling drugs at a Salem day care center faces a variety of new drug charges in Pelham.

Kimberly Danahy, 45, of 36 Woekel Circle, Pelham, allegedly was using equipment to manufacture powder cocaine into crack cocaine to use and sell.

The equipment, along with drugs and drug paraphernalia, was discovered by Pelham police when they executed a search warrant of her home on Thursday, June 14.

During a two-month investigation, undercover officers bought crack cocaine and powder cocaine from Danahy in large and small amounts, according to police.

They purchased approximately 60 grams of cocaine, valued at $6,000, from Danahy, police said. Prior to her arrest, Danahy sold one ounce of powder cocaine to an undercover officer at Pelham Plaza on Route 38, according to police.

The day after her arrest, Danahy was arraigned in Derry District Court. She had been held at the Pelham Police Station on $500,000 cash bail.

Danahy faces charges of possession of crack cocaine, sale of crack cocaine, transporting crack cocaine, six counts of selling cocaine, six counts of transporting cocaine and manufacturing crack cocaine.

When police carried out their search warrant, they arrested William Harnish, 53, of 36 Woekel Circle, Pelham, for possession of marijuana.

Prior to the search, Shane Morrison, 26, also of 36 Woekel Circle, was arrested for driving after suspension. He was later charged with possession of marijuana and possession of prescription pills.

According to police, Danahy could face enhanced penalties of up to 40 years in prison due to her previous convictions for selling drugs and because of the large quantities of drugs that were sold during the Pelham investigation.

Danahy was convicted of nine narcotics charges four years ago for selling drugs out of the Wee Rascals Day Care Center in Salem.

Teens react to drug search

Salem Editor — Wed, 02 May 2007 17:07:00 GMT

BY DARRELL HALEN

Angela Tsoumbanikas, 17, doesn’t mind that police bring drug-sniffing dogs through her school. Or that administrators search student lockers where the dogs indicate drugs might be found.

“They’re OK. I don’t think they do them enough,” said the Pelham High School sophomore. “Drugs aren’t my thing.”

Tsoumbanikas and the rest of the school’s students were evacuated from the building on Friday, April 20, the day before their spring vacation.

While they waited outside for about an hour, police officers led canines through the building in a search for narcotics.

Administrators opened and searched several areas, including hallway lockers, after dogs “hit” on them – pressing their paws against them, trying to get at something. No drugs were found.

Several cars were also “hit.” One girl was suspended for having cigarettes on her and in her car and for parking at school without a permit.

Marijuana was found in a car driven by a 16-year-old boy. A bottle of vodka was discovered in the car of a 17-year-old student.

Both boys received suspensions. Neither was formally charged by police, although the 16-year-old is being required to take a program known as the Challenger Course, an educational program for youth about substances and substance abuse.

The surprise drug searches are typically conducted once a year. The dogs do not search students, who are usually gathered in the gymnasium or directed to go outside.

Administrators do not need permission to search lockers, but they must get permission to search vehicles.

Several students acknowledge they know little about what administrators and police do when the searches are conducted. One student mistakenly assumed that all lockers are opened and searched.

Many of them, such as Corey Peterson, 15, a freshman, said they are not bothered by the searches.

“I don’t mind it,” said Corey, who said he watched through a window as police finished their work in the parking lot after students were allowed back into the building.

“It doesn’t bother me because I don’t do drugs,” said another first-year student, Cameron Robidoux, 15. “If they’re dumb enough to bring it in, that’s their problem.”

Krystyna Nelson, 17, a senior, said she thinks officials “overdo it.” She doesn’t like that administrators search cars.

“If you drive a car here, it’s yours,” she said.

Nelson believes the search was deliberately held on April 20 to coincide with the 420 Campaign, which seeks to pressure Congress to legalize marijuana. Officials have denied this.

Jared Lowell, 19, a senior, said it bothers him that officials feel they need to conduct searches in school. He thinks it reflects poorly on the school and he’d like to see it done after school when it would draw less attention.

Others fully embrace the idea of searches.

“I think it’s one of the best things the school does,” said Scott Cloutier, 16, a junior. “Not just for the kids who deal but for all the kids’ safety. I don’t want to be near it.”

Mike Crooker, 18, a junior, said he’s not surprised the searches are done. Many students use drugs and he’d like to see more searches done.

But the students with drugs are likely to have them on them rather than store them in their lockers, he said.

“If they’re going to search, they might as well search the kids,” he said. “It makes a lot more sense.”

Pelham woman arrested for manufacturing crack

Salem Editor — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 20:51:00 GMT

BY DARRELL HALEN

A 56-year-old Pelham woman – who allegedly used her microwave oven to cook crack cocaine – is accused of manufacturing and distributing the drug from her 53 Blueberry Circle home.

Pelham police said they found cocaine, marijuana, a measuring scale, money ledgers, counterfeit money, crack pipes and material to manufacture the drugs when they carried out a search warrant at Carol Passanisi’s home on Thursday, April 5.

Police said they sought the search warrant based on intelligence gathered during a three-month surveillance of Passanisi’s house and the arrests of two people, including Passanisi, earlier in the day.

Around 11 a.m., officers stopped a vehicle, which appeared to be unregistered, on Dutton Road coming from Passanisi’s house, police said.

The driver, David Spatola, 46, of Pelham, was arrested for possession of cocaine. Police said officers found what appeared to be a crack pipe in his pocket with crack cocaine.

Passanisi, the passenger in the car, was arrested for possession of cocaine. According to police, officers found what appeared to be crack cocaine in her possession as well as drug ledgers and manufacturing materials.

The search warrant, obtained from Derry District Court, authorized police to search for evidence relating to the sale, manufacturing and possession of crack cocaine, authorities said.

As the search warrant was being prepared, police observed two people leaving Passanisi’s home. The car they were riding in was stopped for crossing a double yellow line, police said.

The driver, Michael LaFortune, 44, of Lowell, Mass., was arrested for operating after suspension, subsequent offense, a misdemeanor.

Officers discovered he had his New Hampshire driving privileges suspended for failing to pay court fines, and he had previously been convicted of operating after suspension.

The passenger, Kathleen Lynch, 52, of Sandown, was arrested for possession of cocaine, police said.
Passanisi is no stranger to Pelham police.

According to an affidavit filed by Det. James Johnson to obtain the search warrant, Passanisi’s son and daughter told police in July that their mother is addicted to crack cocaine and they wanted her to get help.

Passanisi told officers she would seek counseling or rehabilitation the next day, according to the affidavit.

Police had gone to their home regarding a trespassing complaint involving Passanisi and her two children, according to the affidavit.

The following month, according to the affidavit, police arrested Passanisi for possession of drugs with intent to distribute.

In February, police arrested her for possession of drugs, possession of drugs in a motor vehicle, and possession of drugs with the intent to distribute, the affidavit said.

When Spatola was interviewed at the police station following his arrest, he admitted to buying crack cocaine from Passanisi for about a year and that he usually goes to her home to pick up the drugs, according to the
affidavit.

He told police that he knows of at least three other customers who buy drugs from Passanisi, according to the affidavit.

As a result of the April 5 busts, Passanisi faces two felony charges of possession of cocaine, and felony charges of possession of Percocet, conspiracy to sell cocaine, and manufacturing crack cocaine. She also faces misdemeanor charges of possession of marijuana and possession of counterfeit money.

Passanisi and the other three suspects are due to be arraigned in Salem District Court on April 23.
Capt. Joseph Roark said his department is investigating whether Passanisi’s alleged drug operation is tied to a rash of thefts that occurred over the summer.