11 Redmond High students arrested in drug bust

uniquelycreated said on February 26, 2010 at 2:34 PM

OK, I grew up on the eastside and now live in Seattle. To say that you expect this type of behavior from students in Seattle is crazy and goes to show that you have no idea what is going on. Most drugs that are used and purchased are purchased by those and used by those that have a higher income. Most with money feel they are above the law and the law wouldn't be looking at them. It is a shock to you because all you hear about is the lower income areas about drugs and it is becoming a problem in the other neighborhoods so now it is making the news.

person123 said on February 23, 2010 at 6:26 PM

All this could be avoided if we educate kids about drugs instead of shunning them away from drugs. Anyone who thinks this drug bust, or prohibition for that matter, will help this "war on drugs" is seriously deluded.

fall2009seattle said on February 22, 2010 at 6:40 PM

It is so bad. I have a son that went to a High School in the Northshore District, whom now has graduated from college and his comment was, "well the story is, they come from money and Cocaine is the Redmond, rich person's drug". Do not get upset by this, this is just another teen that knows all of the schools and believe me, the kids know what goes on. He was not singling out Redmond, it is just what went around at his High school. His high school had some negative things regarding this too, so yes it is an absolute huge problem, because these are the people that we are spending thousands of dollars getting them through Rehab. Fortunately my son states, he never was tempted by that. I hope all is well, and that the parents are not targeted as most people would say, "where are the parents". They are teenagers, and I know full well you cannot control your teenager, you can be a responsible adult and be there for them and have dinner for them and be there for them. Regardless

scott04 said on February 22, 2010 at 1:46 AM

Really? You all act surprised that highschoolers are taking on the biggest drug dealer in the world...the US pharmacy. Obviously there is money involved, or else the gov wouldnt be involved, and to judge their parents bad when they have taught capitalism so well...you must be ashamed. These parents should be proud...their kids found a lucrative source of income only the gov has tapped, and most religious kids cant even comprehend...how shameful of our society.

taxdollarsponge said on February 21, 2010 at 3:07 PM

Police came in and asked for his name," Cole said, "and he just got handcuffed in class." Public embarrassment will nurture a hatred for police.

issfamily0626 said on February 21, 2010 at 12:01 PM

For those who say it doesn't happen in your school - wake up! You will find drug dealers in virtually every high school. The demographics don't matter - it happens everywhere. Do none of you remember yourselves in high school? How easy it was to hide things from your parents? Your children are doing the same thing. If they want to deal or smoke, they'll find a way. Listen to your kids. Building a relationship with your children won't happen overnight - you need to gain their trust and that will only come with time. Be their friend - but also be their mother or father. Ask them how their day was, stick up for them if teachers are giving them problems. If your children are developing dangerous habits, there's a reason - whether they're bored with school or hang out with the wrong crowd. Look at your life as well - put down the latte and stop "going-going-going" - your behavior may have a detrimental effect on your kids and could be the catalyst for dangerous behavior.

akrandy said on February 21, 2010 at 11:48 AM

The rich schools have the MOST DRUGS!! Because they have the money to get them! Wake up people!! It was the same when I was in school on the EAST SIDE 30 years ago. And all the pills in the medicine cabinets they end up in the schools. You all NEED TO WAKE UP!!! I have been out of school for over 30 years and it is only getting worse!!! Some of you chose to berate young man (snowshael)who had the courge to write, . Shame on you!! The adults should listen to what the young people are trying to tell us!!! Instead of being in denial, which is getting us nowhere (samspade) you asked what's going on in Redmond high school. I'll tell you what's going on too many people with their heads stuck in the sand and in denial like YOU SIR!! One of the main problems is to many like you sir, heads in the sand! When young people come forward to tell you that the problem is larger than you imagined it is. Maybe you should listen instead berating them.

voiceofreason said on February 21, 2010 at 11:25 AM

@Scott_Bellevue : Yeah why don't we legalize all illicit drugs? Oh...right, you forgot illicit drugs are still damaging to your health and mind, legal status notwithstanding? What about how they disrupt people's lives and work habits? Yeah, illicit drugs are illegal just because the authorities want to be mean and uncool, right?

voiceofreason said on February 21, 2010 at 11:18 AM

So Michas, did your little football champ/future NCAA star get busted peddling the dope? Was it your little princess that got caught with a crapload of drugs in her locker? You well-to-do types make me laugh, you make things so effortless and trouble free for your kids then they flock to the drugs just for the feeling of something that isn't completely tame and sanitized. Face it, all your kids are into drugs, but not to worry, you have plenty of money to smooth things over via paying for their rehab stints, hiring top-shelf attorneys, academic tutors and the like, because there is no problem money couldn't solve, right? OP: michas said on February 19, 2010 at 1:32 PM: As the parent of an RHS senior, I don't appreciate the "sensational" nature of this action - who are the School District and the police grandstanding for if not the media / voters?

boobiewah said on February 21, 2010 at 5:14 AM

Leave those kids alone! You think this is any different than any other high school in the U.S.?

ebroback said on February 20, 2010 at 4:57 PM

I am disappointed to see kids from other high schools commenting that they do not have these problems. EVERY school has these issues and I hate that people are titling Redmond as "ghetto". We all know that's not true. Many kids in good communities have these problems, just think of the access to money! Kids can get money without causing any sort of crime, and because of that people are ignorant to what's going on. What happened was good because Redmond High cares about the safety of their students. An Eastlake kid said to me. "I kinda wish it happened at my school... not the drama, the actual arrests. There are way to many druggies and drug dealers at Eastlake." I feel much safer knowing that these kids are being punished for their crimes. Some people don't understand. We do the right thing regardless of how it affects our image. Unlike the rest of you. We aren't afraid of bad publicity if our students are safe... we aren't cowards.

emjaymor said on February 20, 2010 at 4:35 PM

You all are so short minded. This stuff goes on in every school. It doesn't matter whether they are in one of the top high schools in the country or just a high school in the projects. Kids will always be getting in trouble but they just need to learn the hard way how to behave. It just happened that Redmond was watched very closely and kids were caught but it could be any school anywhere. It is still a good school and the kids are still good kids. What was needed to be done is done, and it's time to let it go.

libbygu said on February 20, 2010 at 4:14 PM

Hmmm So many Redmondites saying it's not fair to paint the whole school with this brush. I agree. I hope they remember that the next time the story happens in Tacoma. I went to Redmond in the '80's - loved it. Didn't do drugs, didn't see much of it, either.

bazwest said on February 20, 2010 at 3:26 PM

In each new generation a large segment of young people invariably follow the same old "rite of passage" as though they are the first ones to discover the glamour and excitement of drugs and alcohol. It is interesting to me how they quickly dismiss or ignore the hard lessons learned by the casualties left strewn along in the ditches of life. Its the natural optimism of youth that makes them think "I can handle it, and nothing bad will happen to me." Fortunately many will make it through mostly unscathed and yet for too many, this youthful experiment will lead them down the path of missed dreams, addiction, and sorrow. These unfortunate souls eventually come to realize that the glamour and excitement was all smoke and mirrors as they are left holding onto fragments of what could have been a great life. Life is good kids; don't miss the boat!

redmondkidyaa said on February 20, 2010 at 2:40 PM

Really yall! ya need to get a clue! Im a redmond student and noo ya cant just start saying we are a bad school 11 dealers caught which isnt even close to all of them! We are an extremly strickt school and yes many kids smoke pot and stuff but for us most people do pot, very few people do meth and other drugs. Parents get a clue yes it is bad but nthe school is one of the best in washington! If they did this to any other school there would be many many more people caught and The news getting this is crazy! This report should not have been on the news! Yea we got drugies what school dosnt though! To be truthful 70% of the school dose drugs you parents can belief whatever ya want but you dont go to the school so yall wouldnt know! Yes even the people who play sports do its a way for them to cool down... I knew about 7 out of the 11 kids that got caught and because of this making the news and stuff theres rummors that people got tased and thats NOT a joke! so Back off yall!

medgrl said on February 20, 2010 at 12:53 PM

This is nothing new. Kids at my high school did this too, just didn't get caught. Whatever.

johnnyboi17 said on February 20, 2010 at 12:39 PM

as a recent graduate of redmond high school i would like to know why suddenly when an incident like this occurs the school is suddenly shunned and dissented by random people who have very little idea of what is going on. i was never once approached at any time about drugs or alcohol. the students who were arrested chose to do these things on their own will, the school as a whole should not be judged by the stupid actions of a few students. and i also think that this is great news that these students were caught. what high school in america has not had some sort of issue with drug use? but the fact that these 11 students were caught is great news, because now they are getting help with their problems and, at least for the recent future, the drug problem at this school may be less of a factor. oh and snowshael i now no student at redmond high who receives more than a 20 dollar allowance. i am personally paying my way through college out of my own pocket and scholarship.

jackwong said on February 20, 2010 at 12:30 PM

@lex112: I'm not saying it doesn't happen... but I'm just saying for every drug dealer that is in Redmond, there's probably 10 more here in Seattle, Federal Way, Tacoma, etc. I hope people don't think people from the Eastside are druggies. Because I know for a fact, that the eastside's schools are some of the best in Washington... like Newport. People from allover the state have fought tooth and nails to move to Bellevue to benefit from their great schools.

moomofanny said on February 20, 2010 at 10:40 AM

@redmondstudent, no, I am not wrong, that was the situation with my child and friends of hers. However, I am very happy to hear that your experience is very different. It's very disappointing to read comments on here stating that either the problem has arisen because of over priviledged kids and neglectful parents, or that these kids are "bad" kids. Granted, some of these kids may be over priviledged, some might be "bad" or just simply not understanding the seriousness of what they are doing. It certainly doesn't mean ALL kids at RHS are that way, or any other school in fact. Teens in large numbers will always have a few who stand out, good or bad. (Tongue firmly in cheek) - interesting to read the comments that are onviously from kids - their spelling is appalling :)

millkirk said on February 20, 2010 at 10:36 AM

When I went to Blanchet from 58 to 1961, they would do a raid on some of lockers to see if they could find cigaretts in our coat pockets. If they did.....we were in BIG trouble. How times have changed.

scott_bellevue said on February 20, 2010 at 8:34 AM

Wouldn't it be nice if drugs were legal? Not because we endorse drugs, or support kids using them, because that's stupid. But because we could deal with drug abuse in a different way. If drugs were legal, these kids, parents, and administrators would all be dealing with this in a different way. There would be disciplinary action for underage kids having drugs at school, and the parents of the kids would be alerted to the fact that their kids are using drugs through this incident. But now the parents and the kids have to deal with the law, and courts, and perhaps lawyers, all of which leave marks on their records, and cost the taxpayer lots of money, all of which don't seem to do anything for our society except to label otherwise good people as criminals, which starts a nasty downward slide that ruins your life - such as you can't get a job, or get into the school you want, or vote etc. In other words, while hard drugs can be dangerous, one of the biggest dangers is getting arrested.

whidbeylm said on February 20, 2010 at 7:46 AM

Maybe the Olympia Mayor Pro Tem can help with the drug problem here.

collegeguy said on February 20, 2010 at 12:53 AM

If you think this is a surprise, you are a blind fool. Every single high school in the nation has this problem. Heck, 15 yrs ago, my high school had this issue but no one ever got caught until the principles daughter got caught with MJ and so the principle covered it up. But I knew people who knew the dealers and even told me were to go around town to get anything, if I had wanted it. Never did and never will though. If you think this is shocking... wake up to cold hard reality people. Every school has these same kids doing the same thing... just ask the honest good kids how easy it is and they will honestly tell you that if they wanted it they could get it in an hour or less.

eastlake93 said on February 19, 2010 at 11:49 PM

I go to eastlake and im a sohomore girl, its funny because i heard about the comments on this site being an eastlake vs redmond battle, haha. even eastlake has been talking about this all day. I think eastlake is about the same drugwise as redmond is, just didnt get busted. redmond is definitely not ghetto, psh definitely richey compared to other places in the country. but we dont get $200 allowances, im trying to get a job so i can save for college. But the popular majorly rich people do get a lot of stuff like i know one guy has an audi. but anyways...yeah if you dont go to/know redmond dont diss it. and if you do...whatever hahah. but reading these comments i feel kinda awkward, i have no idea who the sellers at eastlake are or how i would get drugs, not that i would ever consider doing drugs, ahahahahaha laugh.

paranoid2 said on February 19, 2010 at 11:17 PM

mmmmm I get the impression that doing drugs is a ok. I would like my brother to tell you how it is after years of coke, lsd, and what ever else he thought was recreational. He like a few others of the hippie generation are complete wastes. They blew there minds on innocent trips.

redmondstudent said on February 19, 2010 at 11:10 PM

moomofanny, you are mistaken. I am a Junior at Redmond High School, and not only do I know very few people who have ever been involved in drugs, but I have been in all of the women's bathrooms, including the locker room at Redmond high school except for the staff restrooms which are locked to all students frequently in my year and a half at Redmond High School, at all times of the day, and have never, ever seen anyone using drugs. The closest to drugs on campus that I have encountered were several students smoking cigarettes (not marijuana, they had the pack with them) on the path right off the football field, something which I'm certain happens at other schools.

vor66 said on February 19, 2010 at 10:50 PM

Morons

redmondstangs said on February 19, 2010 at 9:52 PM

personalcoach has a point, the kids that i know who were arrested are not bad kids, and i certainly doubt they were dabbling in meth or more harmful drugs. They were messing around with marijuana, sure, but that doesn't make them criminals, like they wouldn't rob a 7-11 or anything. Of course, what I'm saying only applies outside of school grounds, if any of them brought their stuff to school then they were excercising poor judgement because school is a drug free zone and I believe it should remain that way. Also, the students were arrested in front of their peers to be shown as examples. I think it shows the police were simply flexing their muscles for us what with all the media. There were helicopters over our heads all day.

personalcoach said on February 19, 2010 at 8:42 PM

Many of you are assuming these eleven kids are bad. Do you know any of them personally? Or are you making a judgment based on some apparent bad behavior that they alone have displayed? Have you never done anything bad? Driven with a few too many drinks in you? Lied on your taxes? If you think that's different because you're an adult or because no one got caught or hurt, then I invite you to look at your own value system. Look to your own house and the stones in your hand. A little compassion and humility will go a lot farther toward putting these kids--and the whole planet--on the right track than uninformed condemnation. When was the last time that shame and derision prompted you to change your behavior?

actionjackson3 said on February 19, 2010 at 8:33 PM

Dont be stupid eastlake.. we all know how many oxy cotton additcs you guys produce..

hereshope said on February 19, 2010 at 7:45 PM

Well, let me be the first to congratulate Jane Todd and her staff for the execution - super easy to just be complacent and say "oh this is what kids do". Ya know what- no it isn't. There are signs posted everywhere- Drug Free Zone. Make it happen.

opticalillusion said on February 19, 2010 at 7:41 PM

You guys have to realize that these 11 students are not a representation of RHS's entire student body. RHS is one of the best high schools in Washington, many students leave with high GPAs and the students have an amazing amount of support for the school. I'm almost 100% sure you could go to almost any other high school and find the same group of typical "druggies" and dealers. The only difference is that RHS actually stepped up to the plate and decided to do something about the drug problem. It's sad to see that our school is getting such a bad reputation because of these 11 students. Just remember, this particular group of kids do not represent the other 1,389 students that attend Redmond High School. I love walking through the halls of RHS everyday. I'm glad too see that the administration from RHS and the Redmond police are actually trying to solve an on going problem, a problem not only at RHS but at most other schools in the area.

contraryjim said on February 19, 2010 at 6:20 PM

Make anything illegal and it is more attractive. The War on drugs is a war on people.

fasdfasd said on February 19, 2010 at 6:05 PM

HEY GRAHAM go drown

moomofanny said on February 19, 2010 at 5:53 PM

My daughter attended RH for 3 years, graduated 2008. In the 3 years she was there, she invariably came home desperate for the bathroom, such was her fear of using the bathroom at school because of the constant use of drugs and peer pressure when she walked in. Why did it take so long for this bust, when parents and students and staff alike have known of the issue for so long????

yeahwhatever said on February 19, 2010 at 5:31 PM

youu need to calm down. i go to redmond, and im college bound. so i honeslty have no idea who some of these kids are, but yeah i agree they got it coming. dont blame the whole school its totally unfair.

heyler7 said on February 19, 2010 at 4:49 PM

Both parents work... so they can keep that "rich" looking life style, but in fact they are probably in debt to the point the kids have to sell bad things to support their life style.

heyler7 said on February 19, 2010 at 4:48 PM

Way to go... Redmond is out doing Renton! Gotta be the best don't ya!

annunaki said on February 19, 2010 at 4:46 PM

Shoot informants. Not drugs!!

aziza said on February 19, 2010 at 4:43 PM

What? In such an affluent community? Why this is only supposed to happen to those poor folk in Tacoma, Federal Way, South Seattle... tsk tsk tsk. (I'm being tongue in cheek.)

noskills said on February 19, 2010 at 4:39 PM

Why would anyone find this shocking? Drugs have been common place in high schools since the 60s. The only thing that keeps changing is the drug of choice. The kids should be punished but I dont know why anyone would think this is a something new.

flinestonebedrok said on February 19, 2010 at 4:39 PM

Redmond parents are horrible for not making their kids work and giving them money that disappears all too often.. east lake 4 lyfe.. get a job..

redmondstangs said on February 19, 2010 at 4:32 PM

it seems to me like a lot of people are ignorant or simply trollin' all over this board. I am currently a student at rhs and a student in my 2nd period was arrested. Redmond is an amazing school with a VERY nice community. Cliques are almost non-existant. The majority of the people are friendly, I love it. Your chances of getting robbed or held at gunpoint by a redmond citizen is slim to none. I know plenty of people who do pot or drink on the weekends or whatever but I've never even HEARD of anybody at my school doing meth or heroin, that does NOT represent redmond at all. I get the feeling the only reason redmond gets drug busted is because the police force has the money and the resources to do it, that's it. I would say redmond has a pretty minor drug problem compared to other high schools around puget sound. This article makes us all looks so bad, at least they stressed at the end of the article that this does not reflect the entire school body.

colleenmc said on February 19, 2010 at 4:26 PM

Michas, I think you might need a wake up call. I am also a parent of a RHS senior and I've been very concerned about the partying, drinking and other antics going on. The recent TOLO dance is one perfect example of the kinds of negative behaviors a large number of students are engaged in. The RHS community of parents needs a big wake up call --I hope this is it. I was wondering why the principal wasn't addressing all the alcohol issues and then when this story broke -- apparently she was too busy with hard core drug issues. Don't worry, if your kid is a good kid, this won't hurt their college acceptance. Try not to be so worried about the RHS "reputation" and more about facing the reality that there are a lot of kids engaged in a lot of dangerous behaviors and parents need to pay attention and address it with the school and community's help. Lets use this opportunity to pay attention and get real. I also believe that RHS is no different than any other HS in the nation.

tsuki said on February 19, 2010 at 4:21 PM

So glad those students were caught, I only wish more students that I know use drugs were caught. (-cough- the moron who beat up the kid in a road rage incident). Those students = dregs of society. Better to get rid of them (why do they even come to school?). It's just sad that the school, with tons of exceptional students, looks bad. (and my brother just informed me that East Lake had no drug busts, therefore the drug addicts get away with it)

separac said on February 19, 2010 at 4:17 PM

The meth is a bit problematic, but pot and ecstasy? Come on... that stuff is just a regular part of a normal highschooler's party experience. Just like it was back in the 90's, when I was in school.

madworld said on February 19, 2010 at 3:51 PM

For anyone who has negative things to say about Redmond High school and their students, realize that drugs are a common thing in any high school. I was there during the bust and sadly alot of people I know were arrested. Some of the drugs that were uncovered were shocking but it's to be expected for a portion of the student body. It's not like Redmond is significantly bad, it's simply one of the very few schools that has agreed to participate in things such as this. Any other school would have probably had a similar number of kids. Lastly, "snugglebug's" comment was offending. "It's things like this that makes me want to home school my childen" Thats ridiculous. Public schools aren't bad at all. That was 11 students out of over say... 900? Get real. Protecting you're kids in that way could have even worse effects. just so you know.

rhsfriend said on February 19, 2010 at 3:48 PM

I just went for a walk past RHS and noticed a lot of self rolled cigarette butts over by the football field!. Does the facilty not pay attention to this? I wonder if these could be from pot smokers!

rus238612 said on February 19, 2010 at 3:10 PM

@actionjackson3 You're right its absolutely not about money, families or any of that. It completely is the governments fault. And these problems happen EVERYWHERE. I was attacking jackwong for making an ignorant statement, that is it.

ehsparty said on February 19, 2010 at 3:06 PM

and what about the baseball team?? huh? silent about that too. Im too good for the hillbillies that live up on the "plateau". Just ride your tractors home from school in a few minutes.

logic14 said on February 19, 2010 at 3:02 PM

...now you people think this is bad but the mayor of olympia is just a normal guy that likes pot??? I am confused...why aren't they just silly teenagers coming of age with a little experimenting? Whats wrong with a little meth, heroin, or cocaine. Who are the hurting in this consensual crime? I say "LOCK THEM UP AND THROW AWAY THE KEY!!!"

ehsparty said on February 19, 2010 at 3:00 PM

just stunned with how right i am arent you hahahahahaha

wolves1234 said on February 19, 2010 at 2:59 PM

cool you ehs guy at least get a real username and stop using eastlake in it pick a side

ehsparty said on February 19, 2010 at 2:54 PM

silence eh 1234 im loving it hahahaha

wolves1234 said on February 19, 2010 at 2:53 PM

okay new years there were not any drug problems so ya your still not right get your facts right. COMB GIRL!

ehsparty said on February 19, 2010 at 2:53 PM

wolves1234 you are the most uneducated hillbilly i have ever heard. get ur mouth shut and move along. you are total scum.

whatareyoufive said on February 19, 2010 at 2:51 PM

Soy un caballo, asi chicate. allz ur $$$ is in my honey.

wolves1234 said on February 19, 2010 at 2:50 PM

no sophmores got arrested so get your facts right.....you have no proof people were selling to eastlake and if you do then you are admitting to being part of the drug issue so that means there are even more of you....and stop talking about money thats the only thing you have on us!

ehsparty said on February 19, 2010 at 2:50 PM

and wolves1234 i heard that 10 sophomores got busted too and what about ur great baseball team last year? breakin and enterin sound right??? nuff said.

12345677 said on February 19, 2010 at 2:45 PM

EASTLAKE CHICKS ARE FAT.

samspade said on February 19, 2010 at 2:45 PM

flinestonebedrok you are so wrong. Jealous maybe that you didn't have the upbringing you had hoped for? Redmond is rated one of the top 100 cities to raise families by US News and World Report. I think I'll take their studied evaluation over your uninformed quip. You have a great day.

voldemort said on February 19, 2010 at 2:42 PM

and dude, wolves1234 i heard that 10 sophomores from eastlake got busted on new years eve. No drug problems? hmmmmm....

ehsparty said on February 19, 2010 at 2:42 PM

eastlake is just a stupid school that has just as many drug problems as redmond. if there was a drug bust at eastlake, more people would be screwed. stop tryign to pretend that you are the best. it is pointless. redmond rules!!! mustang power!!! and i hope these kids get off as easy as possible!!

12345677 said on February 19, 2010 at 2:41 PM

EXCUES ME, at least Redmond kids know how to make their own money AND NOT GET IT FROM THEIR PARENTS!

voldemort said on February 19, 2010 at 2:41 PM

Flinstonebedrok, what are you TALKING about? What sort of rock are you under? (a stone-age one apparently) Do you not realize how AWFUL some comunities are? Redmond, compared to many communities in our country, is safe and calm. Of course there's some crime, and OF COURSE some kids with money are gonna get bored but I'd rather regognize their misakes and learn from it than cover it up. Unlike EASTLAKE. Who I heard a few weeks ago 10 sophmores were arrested for the SAME THING.

12345677 said on February 19, 2010 at 2:39 PM

Thank's to the REDMOND police and LWSD totally amazing undercover operation, Redmond student are now made out to be crackhead's. thankkks, cause' you know thats how we role. go stangs.

wolves1234 said on February 19, 2010 at 2:38 PM

okay mr. redmond kid you guys won once and we won once....pretty sure we are equal and we still dont have a drug addiction

12345677 said on February 19, 2010 at 2:36 PM

Eastlake, our drug dealer's were selling to your students. freaking methheads.

wolves1234 said on February 19, 2010 at 2:36 PM

okay voldemort go love a little more harry potter...but anyways you have no idea what sammamish is like we have a bad rep and you know that you would love to live here stop giving us a bad rep because i have lived in other spots and they are just like sammmaish. SO GET YOUR FACTS RIGHT! GO WOLVES!

12345677 said on February 19, 2010 at 2:34 PM

well I go to redmond, and I would just like to say: WE STILL BEAT EASTLAKE. word.

michas said on February 19, 2010 at 2:32 PM

As the parent of an RHS senior, I don't appreciate the "sensational" nature of this action - who are the School District and the police grandstanding for if not the media / voters? This could have been done in a way that is respectful and mindful of the interests of the hundreds and hundreds of innocent students who are now tainted by association, and just at a time when those college acceptances and scholarships are being awarded. I'm not saying drugs should be allowed or that the guilty should go unpunished, I'm saying LWSD has a responsibility to not subject 99% of RHS students to undeserved public humiliation and stigma while rubbing their hands together and hurrying to prepare their media statements. To make yourselves look good, LWSD, you've thrown my child and 1488 of his peers under the bus. I don't appreciate it.

beakyboy said on February 19, 2010 at 2:30 PM

looks like redmond is trying to compete with some of the other eastside cities... they'll pleed guilty to littering and get off.

flinestonebedrok said on February 19, 2010 at 2:29 PM

i meant that redmond is a terrible community for kids to grow up in

voldemort said on February 19, 2010 at 2:27 PM

(From a comment above) " I played sports, got grades, and smoked a massive amount of marijuana. I now attend Washington state University." Typical Cougs. GO DAWGS! And Eastlake, don't mess. We know what you're up to. Don't pretend like you don't have a worse drug problems up on your goody-two-shoes plateau. Your parents would cover it up with your money.

drewtenx10 said on February 19, 2010 at 2:25 PM

Streotypicly most people think this is just a bunch of spoiled rich kids with money and free time when in fact half the students were of lower income families.yes i have inside sources, and watched from my house while the force was assembling out back the school. Drugs dont discriminate, they dont care if you have good parents, money or section 8 and dshs bene's. I dont get why none of the students ever catch on. The task force plants a undercover officer posing as a student every year always at the begining of the year,makes controlled buys, builds their case then usualy has the bust around the middle of the year, from feb to april. This has become a tradition for more than a decade now. let the gossip and rumors on ed. hill begin!

jjd9417 said on February 19, 2010 at 2:23 PM

To blame 3rd parties (i.e.parents) is outrageous. This thinking helps hide the problem. HS young adults are raised by the community, we all interact with them. Take a look at the drug challenges at our US boarders. Who do you think these very smart professional criminals go after? The strong ,or the weak? Young people in schools are fragile, pressure of acedemic testing, peer pressure, and other struggles. Take a look at the Super Bowl beer etc party commercials, figure it out. Society glamorizes the "party," and appreciates flaunted wealth. Professional criminals teach not only how to addict young people, but how to get deeply into the pockets of relatives. This is a problem for us all in the USA. Check out the Mayor of Olympia, who will share that blame? It is a hope, that these 11 families can heal from this trauma, and the buyers of this product learn to not support crime. A person is accountable for their own actions.

samspade said on February 19, 2010 at 2:23 PM

I work with parents who have kids that go to Eastlake, Bellevue, Lakeside and several inner-City Seattle Public Schools, and they all tell the same stories. Just the names change. There are problems at every high school in this state, and the best way to deal with them is to be involved - through the PTSA, with the administrators, with other parents. Be involved, don't accept what you don't like. Did I say be involved?

wolves1234 said on February 19, 2010 at 2:03 PM

Well i go to Eastlake High School up the hill and we don't have any problems like that......GO WOLVES!

actionjackson3 said on February 19, 2010 at 2:02 PM

I went to Redmond High School and graduated from there in 2007. It's just like any other high school. I guarantee several other lake washington school district schools have the same stuff going on. Redmond just got caught. It's got nothing to do with the money people make or what parents teach. Its the government saying that marijuana is just as bad as cocaine or meth. Its the fact that prohibition allows kids of all ages access to any of these drugs. The kids had to have got the drugs from somebody, and Drug dealers dont ask for I.D. Blame the government. I played sports, got grades, and smoked a massive amount of marijuana. I now attend Washington state University and am trying to get a degree. Its no reflection of the school because it happens everywhere. Its a reflection of our society and the way it is set up. Figure it out people

jrocker said on February 19, 2010 at 1:55 PM

Drugs were a huge problem in Kirkland in the late 90's . I don't see why it would be any different now. I saw drugs in my Jr. High even in the 90's. Seems like people are living under rocks.

samspade said on February 19, 2010 at 1:40 PM

rus238612, the eastside is not a big bubble. I know that's what people tend to think, but it's simply not true. Did you know that Bellevue, very similar to Redmond, is more ethnically diverse than Seattle? Yup, it is. My friends in Seattle hate it when I say that and show them the proof in the Census data, because that's not the world view they want to acknowledge. There is just this built in prejudice that suburbs breed a monolithic stratified society. Nope, wrong on that account too. I don't know why you think that rich white folk think they are better than everyone else. That's your issue, not reality.

seattlechick206 said on February 19, 2010 at 1:37 PM

@ jackwong "I would expect this a lot more in Seattle, or West Seattle... just not the Eastside" ARE YOU SERIOUS?????? So you are telling me that rich kids dont get involved in the drug stuff???? your comment actually made me laugh....

edjon said on February 19, 2010 at 1:34 PM

Don't get too hot and heavy on this report. By all means, students at RHS are well behaved and well disciplined. They have a very high percentage of graduating students, a lot of graduates goes to their selected colleges. These are just a few students that commited this crime. Don't be shocked. If police goes to any of the public schools, they will find the same things. So chill down on the lashing and behave yourselves.

mzalbo22 said on February 19, 2010 at 1:33 PM

rus238612 <- You said what I was really trying to say and did it better. THANK YOU.

samspade said on February 19, 2010 at 1:31 PM

flinestonebedrok you are right. This action does sum up the community of Redmond. Redmond is a community of families and community leaders that care about what is going on in their City. And they care about their children. That's what you meant to say right?

rus238612 said on February 19, 2010 at 1:29 PM

@jackwong Really? Why Seattle? Is it because there are more minorities in Seattle? Because there are. RH is 74.95% white. I don't understand why so many rich white people think they're better than the rest of the world. A high income does not automatically dictate discipline, and how successful your parents are does not always play a role in a teens' decision making. The Eastside is a big bubble, separate from the rest of the world. Step out of it, go to a foreign country, go to a low income neighborhood, see what people have to live with before you judge them and label them as drug dealers and addicts. I don't want to generalize because I am sure that plenty of kids at RH play sports, get good grades, all while avoiding drugs and working part time to help make up for the economic downfall. But I'm also POSITIVE, that there are kids who get whatever they want, whenever and however they want it. And I believe, essentially, that's where the problem is. Look at the RH parking lot.

mzalbo22 said on February 19, 2010 at 1:25 PM

I'm just, in general, irritated. The other day there was a news story about teens on a crime spree in Seattle. This instantly became a race issue. Now there is a story of a 'drug ring' in Redmond, and no one assumes they are black. People just think it' cant happen in Redmond. We are rich and have money. Get a life, people.

clear2copy said on February 19, 2010 at 1:19 PM

heh..I love when there's a school-related story in the news.. all the teenyboppers come out of the woodwork to spam the news blogs.

flinestonebedrok said on February 19, 2010 at 1:15 PM

this action sums up the community of redmond

imacatom said on February 19, 2010 at 1:07 PM

watching this news report on king5 @ noon, it reminded me of the old show 21 Jumpstreet from the 80s with Johnny Dep, Holly Robinson, and Peter DeLuise as undercover cops. Well done, Redmond Police. well done.

goldgreen14 said on February 19, 2010 at 1:03 PM

I go to Cacade High School in Everett and you guys are gonna sit there and complain about Redmond, I would know i went to Redmond High School First, Than Marysville-Pilchuck High School, and now Cascade High School, Redmond BY FAR is the better school out of the three and there is wayyyyyy less drugs, take my word on that.

rhsparent32 said on February 19, 2010 at 12:59 PM

As a parent of two students at Redmond High School, I have to say that it is a wonderful school. Our experiences have been exceptional. The vast majority of students are GOOD kids. It isn't fair to consider these 11 individuals are representative of the environment at RHS. Remember this is 11 out of 1500 students - less than 1%! Please keep this in perspective!

509ifyourelucky said on February 19, 2010 at 12:58 PM

When are teens going to get the message. Drugs are not tolerated anywhere in school or in the workplace.

starmar said on February 19, 2010 at 12:53 PM

I went to Redmond in the eighties and I have a child there now. There were drugs (and not just pot), drug dealers, and drug busts back then, it is nothing new and it is no different at any other high school anywhere, whether you are in Medina or the Central district. It is so lame to actually be shocked about this because of Redmond being a "well off" community. If you honestly think your kids are immune to being exposed to drugs, sex, violence, etc. because you put them in a wealthy school/district, you are living in lala land and are the exact kind of parent whose kids get away with this type of thing.

erinj337 said on February 19, 2010 at 12:46 PM

this stuff is going on at every high school. its not really a big supprise. and about the bad parenting comment...i actually know these kids and one of them doesnt even have parents. its not just redmond high school. its every high school. i can garentie that the same stuff is going on at any other high school they just havent gotten caught yet. i dont think its really that big of deal, since the majority of this generation is doing drugs. it most likley wont stop anytime soon. kids are going to try things and are going to make mistakes its just the way it is. so dont think its just redmond thats doing this cause most likely your kid is too.

collentine1 said on February 19, 2010 at 12:44 PM

Sad situation. Glad I went to Bellevue High.

mtfield said on February 19, 2010 at 12:43 PM

Nothing that a few years in the military won't clear up. Off to Somalia for you, druggies!

verybored said on February 19, 2010 at 12:30 PM

i'm addicted to cheese bread.

verybored said on February 19, 2010 at 12:29 PM

i'm addicted to cheese and bread!

flourescentlight said on February 19, 2010 at 12:25 PM

My grilled cheese tasted like cheese and bread.

rhs_student said on February 19, 2010 at 12:25 PM

@ drewtenx10 Ok if you think the students didn't know whats was happening then your wrong. All the students were looking THROUGH the blinds, and the police arrested the students right in front of the whole class. Students knew about under cover cops, all they did was bust the ignorant kids. And they started a hell lot of gossip.

juliav said on February 19, 2010 at 12:22 PM

I went to school in Des Moines (Washington) in the 70's. The drug of choice then was speed, which the girls were taking to lose weight because society was telling them they were too fat. They were all of normal weight, not at all overweight. In the eighties, I think it was, Bellevue had the distinction of being mentioned in Time magazine as have The Highest per capita incidence of bulimia in the nation. So, drugs, and other dysfunctions, have been around the area for a while. Now, I live in Montana, which ranks number 3 in the nation for highest per capita beer consumption. Lot of drunken rednecks out here, from the governor on down.

drewtenx10 said on February 19, 2010 at 12:19 PM

This drug bust happens every year its no surprise. All you people act so shocked and appauled. These type of activities have been going on in schools for generations,now that were are in this day and age of information and technology everybody finds out about it. I watched this go down from my house which is right behind the school.Teachers had all the blinds down so that students couldnt see outside where the whole task force was grouping for the raid. Dont act so surprised, kids with free time and ample resources is the perfect formula for drug use. More drugs and bigger varieties of them are ran through the whole eastside. For some reason Redmond High has developed a tradition in having an annual drug bust. The only ones who havent seemed to catch on are the current students. Personaly I think this B.S. because no other scools in the district or on the eastside have these busts no one else gets alerted about the drug trade/use in other schools.

flourescentlight said on February 19, 2010 at 12:14 PM

One day I ate a cheese sandwich. That was yesterday. Hurray.

billiameveryman said on February 19, 2010 at 12:14 PM

Snow... Yeah, I had my wild streak in school too, but heroin and meth? That's a little more serious than a joint and a couple of beers out by the railroad tracks...

verybored said on February 19, 2010 at 12:07 PM

okay so i actually go to Redmond, we are deffinitly not all on drugs. and we are not paid hundreds of dollars of week allowance. just because we have money doesn't mean we're "bad" so get over it.

samspade said on February 19, 2010 at 12:06 PM

There is a good news part of this story, and that is that the Redmond Police and the Redmond High School are involved and trying to curtail this activity. Yes, there will always be drugs, and sex and alcohol use among teens, but a vigilent administration and police department will at least cut down the exposure for kids who otherwise might have been tempted. Good work Redmond!!

lex112 said on February 19, 2010 at 12:01 PM

jackwong, just because kids live on the eastside and have higher family incomes doesn't make them immune to trouble. I bet you tons of kids in bellevue and redmond are doing and/or selling drugs. Kids do drugs because they think its fun or cool and they sell them because they make a lot of money. I graduated from high school less than 5 years ago and thats just how the high school world is now. I'm not saying I was a part of this culture, but in high school you know who does stuff and who doesn't and you know what goes on. And to all of you that are quick to blame parents, how ignorant. Yea, it's a possibility that parents don't take the time anymore. But a lot of kids have parents that do check up on them, do know their friends, BUT KIDS LIE! Kids are manipulative and lie to do what they think is in their best interest. Parents are having a hard enough time these days trying to provide for their families and trying to keep families connected.

samspade said on February 19, 2010 at 12:01 PM

snowshael - I know plenty of families whose young adults go to RHS, and none of them get $200-500 in allowance. In fact nearly all of the young adults are working so they can help pay for college. So please leave your bitterness at the door thank you. And your assertion that 70 of students smoke weed. Is that a scientific survey you conducted, or is that just your circle of friends? Most of the families and students I know are very serious about their sports and academics and are smart enough not to risk thier future for such a minor pleasure. There are plenty of studies conducted by professionals including those funded by the government that show no statistical difference in income levels and drug and alcohol use. So the tired rich spoiled drug/alkie kid stereotype is null and void. Students and families of all income levels have problems and issues. The maind ifference I see is that families of higher incomes and education levels are better able to get help.

sharoncrosetto said on February 19, 2010 at 11:56 AM

@ Hippiegirl "Well said" and it's wise to realize that home schooling does not prevent your child from experimenting with drugs. As a parent of two graduates of Redmond High School the controlled substances have always been an issue. The good is that the school and Redmond Police department is on top of it....the bad is that when marijuana & cocaine was the drug of choice now we have ample amounts of heroin, methamphetamine, MDMA, and a variety of prescription medications available to these kids. Support the community, get involved, and remind yourself that all kids are at risk-Stay involved

wolfrayet said on February 19, 2010 at 11:56 AM

Darn there goes my connection! jackwong: It doesn't surprise me this happened in Redmond after all being from a much higher income they have the resources to purchase stuff they don't need as well as the cellular equipment to set up covert meetings.

snowshael said on February 19, 2010 at 11:54 AM

samspade: You've been out of school way to long if that's what you consider to be the highlights at this or any other high school. Is it just me, or is everyone posting here in some idealistic trap within their own minds thinking public schools are bastions of good behavior, no drugs, no drinking, no violence of pitty fights, and no sex?

samspade said on February 19, 2010 at 11:50 AM

What is going on at RHS? Last year several drug bust sand near student riot at a basketball game, last week a kid gets assaulted by another student over a road rage incident, now 11 down in a drug bust. Glad to see the police and school administration taking all this seriously.

pixelater said on February 19, 2010 at 11:44 AM

Mommy and daddy aren’t going to be very happy with little Johnnie or little Janie.

snowshael said on February 19, 2010 at 11:43 AM

Hahaha, I love how all of these people who are doing nothing at 10am on a weekday are so fast to simply jump on this and throw harsh accusations and judgement left and right. As if you were never a kid who did drugs, bought them, drank alcohol illegally, tried pot, or did questionable things when you were young. Do you really expect a community with a higher income per average is.. "gooder"? Jesus, what do you think happens when you give kids 200-500 dollar per months allowance and when any kid there who has any median of wealth gets a card handed to them from daddy/mommy? I went to this school last year as a senior, and believe me, 70% of the students have at one point had, smoked, and enjoyed pot. Don't delude yourselves.

hippiegirl said on February 19, 2010 at 11:34 AM

snugglebug022305: Don't be so quick to blame parents. If a child is an addict, they're smart and manipulative and go to great lengths to hide drug/alcohol abuse. Some subtle things to watch for: wanting to spend the night at friends' homes all the time, Visine for "sensitive eyes," spending less and less time with family, in their bedroom all the time with the door shut, losing weight, bad skin, lack of appetite. Drug use isn't always blatant when an addict is involved, and some of the symptoms above don't appear until a kid is well into the habit. Good parents are affected, too. For every lousy parent with a kid on drugs, there's a good parent suffering the same situation.

jackwong said on February 19, 2010 at 11:34 AM

Such a suprise... Redmond is known to have a great community with much higher income than the average Washingtonians. I would expect this a lot more in Seattle, or West Seattle... just not the Eastside.

yogibear said on February 19, 2010 at 11:33 AM

It is to bad some kids are just to dumb to not think how their stupid decisions and actions will affect them for a long time

annunaki said on February 19, 2010 at 11:31 AM

nobody has been convicted of anything. you are presumed innocent until proven guilty. at least that's the way it used to be

graham said on February 19, 2010 at 11:04 AM

Give them 30yrs that will wake up the brats

snugglebug022305 said on February 19, 2010 at 11:04 AM

This is just an outrage... I do not know these people personally but I am thinking that there might be a lack of parenting in these kids lives?? This is just so sad... it is so common that you see kids getting in trouble for a number of things, but what parent doesnt know that their child is using or selling drugs? What a shame!! Its things like this that make me want to home school my children!!!!