FEDERAL WAY, Wash. – Students in three Federal Way high schools head back to class Friday after a major gun and drug bust involving 12 students. They're still talking about the fact two undercover police officers posed as classmates to make the case.
In what seems like a script out of the 1980's TV drama "21 Jump Street," an undercover police operation into drug dealing and gun sales has led to the arrests of eight students, who were booked in King County Juvenile Court and await arraigment Friday. Four other students involved in the ring are still at large. Two adults non-students were also arrested. All 14 have been charged.
The seven-month investigation included Federal Way Police, federal law enforcement agencies, the King County prosecutor's office and the Federal Way School district.
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Federal Way Police enrolled two officers as high school students over a seven month period at three high schools – Federal Way, Decatur and Todd Beamer. While in school, Federal Way Police Chief Brian Wilson said the officers signaled to students they were interested in buying illegal drugs. The arrests are based on drug and gun purchases that were made as a result of those contacts, some of which included students.
"Although the gun purchases were brokered by students, gun sales were carefully orchestrated to take place off school property", said Special Agent in Charge Kelvin Crenshaw of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The guns ranged from pistols to rifles, including an AR-15, which is a civilian version of the military M-16. The drugs that were purchased included Marijuana, Ecstasy, Cocaine and Oxycodone.
Eleven juveniles and three young adults are facing charges. 12 of them are students. One of the adults faces federal weapons charges.
Five of the arrested students are from Federal Way High School, four are from Todd Beamer and three are from Decatur.
The two officers successfully passed themselves off as students even though one was 29 years old and the other was 33 years old.
Police say the school district and principals consented to the undercover investigation.
"We want to send a message loud and clear: this community has made it a priority to provide a safe environment for our citizens and visitors. We aren't going to tolerate illegal activities in our neighborhoods, schools, or anywhere else," said Wilson.
The arrests come just two months after an incident involving guns at Todd Beamer High School. In April, three boys including a student were arrested after the student allegedly brought stolen guns to school in the hopes of selling them. The guns were stolen from a Washington State Trooper's home. His own son was one of the suspects.
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