Justice Says High School Raid Did Not Violate Civil Rights Laws

A guns-drawn raid at a high school last year did not violate civil rights laws and the case is closed, the U.S. Justice Department said. The decision means there will be no criminal charges, said Andy Savage, a lawyer for officers in the sweep at the Goose Creek high school. Fifteen officers entered Stratford High School's main hallway and ordered 130 students to the floor Nov. 5 of last year. They used plastic ties to handcuff 18 students and school officials opened and searched 17 book bags using a drug dog. Police found no drugs or weapons, but the raid frightened children, provoked marches and lawsuits and brought national media attention and the resignation of the school's longtime principal. Civil lawsuits alleging students' constitutional rights were violated still remain, and settlement negotiations recently broke down. [more ]

• Raid at High School Leads to Racial Divide, Not Drugs [more ]
• Although only 22 percent of the school's 2,700 students are Black, 70 out of the 105 students searched and detained were Black. [more ]