Huntsville, Alabama

DARE officer arrests man for meth near campus
WAFF - TV

Students at one Valley school got a real-life lesson on why you shouldn't do drugs.

Saying "no" to drugs is a message Officer Robert Bethune tries to ingrain in children's minds.

He's a DARE officer, which stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education.

"We just teach kids to make good decisions, basically. And teach a little bit about how dangerous drugs are," said Bethune.

On Thursday, students at Albertville High School got to see a drug bust first-hand.

The principal saw a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot, none of them were students, it wasn't time for school to let out and authorities say they didn't have any business there.

Bethune was called out to investigate.

"Three individuals were outside their vehicles, talking to students coming by and you know, kind of interacting with the students," said Bethune.

Bethune says as soon as the three saw his patrol car, they drove off.

Bethune caught up with them, and that's when he and another school resource officer found 4.7 grams of meth.

21-year-old Jose Garcia was arrested just off campus for felony possession of a controlled substance.

Bethune hopes it's a life lesson for the students on why they shouldn't touch drugs.

"The students being able to see that sends a message that we are policing for it. And we're not going to stand for it," said Bethune.

Authorities are still trying to determine if Garcia was trying to get students to buy dope.

If so, the punishment will be more severe.

If Garcia is convicted for trying to sell drugs on campus, it's an additional five years in prison with no chance of probation or parole.  

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