Drug dog sniffs out suspension for teen
Parents furious school relied on animal's nose
OTTAWA (CP) — A 15-year-old boy has been kicked out of school for two days on a drug dog's say so.
Christopher Laurin was suspended because an Ottawa police dog indicated it smelled marijuana on his ski jacket during an impromptu drug search Tuesday at St. Matthew high school in suburban Orleans.
Laurin had no drugs on him.
The school principal says she could not smell marijuana on Laurin's coat, but the dog's word proved final.
Police and school staff told the student that police dogs can smell lingering marijuana residue on clothing up to three months after the fact.
Laurin's parents are furious.
"How come the school is allowed to punish my son because a drug-sniffing dog smelled marijuana? He didn't have any drugs on his jacket. He didn't do anything wrong. What if he had left his coat in someone's car, and that person had a joint?" asked Michel Laurin, Chris's father.
"I know they're trying to do the right thing, but suspension for a coat?" he said. "I don't believe the implications this could have."
A police officer and the dog came out of Laurin's classroom with his grey ski jacket. The student was taken to the principal's office, where he was told to empty the pockets of his coat. Then the principal searched the jacket. She found $3 — and no drugs.
Laurin was asked why his coat smelled like marijuana, and was then sent home.
"This is a preventative measure," said James McCracken, deputy director of education for Ottawa-Carleton Catholic School Board. "We're very interested in not having illegal substances at schools. If they find something suspicious, the police have the authority to search bags, jackets etc."
