January 29, 2008

Purdue police arrest student on drug-related charges

Joshua T. Wood, 18, a freshman in engineering from Plymouth, Mass., was charged with illegal possession of ten 500-milligram hydrocodone pills within 1,000 feet of a public park, reckless possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of less than 30 grams of marijuana. He was taken to Tippecanoe County Jail and later released in lieu of a $10,000 surety bond.

Working with the Tippecanoe County Drug Task Force, Purdue police responded to a tip of drug use in Wood's eighth-floor McCutcheon Hall room. According to a police report, Wood declined to let an officer enter his room without a search warrant. Wood was later found outside his room with the pills and marijuana in his possession, Lt. Fred Davis said.

"Our ongoing efforts with the Tippecanoe County Drug Task Force are sending a message that illegal drugs are not acceptable on our campus, and we're going to work hard to find the people taking part in these activities," Davis said. "Our department also has acquired a drug-sniffing dog that is going through training, and that will allow us to enhance our enforcement abilities even further."

The drug possession charge within 1,000 feet of a park is a Class C felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000. The charges of reckless possession of paraphernalia and possession of less than 30 grams of marijuana are Class A misdemeanors, punishable by up to one year in jail and a maximum fine of $4,000.

Writer: Jim Bush, (765) 496-2077, jsbush@purdue.edu

Source: Lt. Fred Davis, (765) 494-8221, fvdavis@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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