The two students, both women, had been inside the bookstore when a member of Antelope Valley College's Cadet Program, who was providing security for the bookstore, detected a heavy marijuana odor stemming from the two women. The cadet notified the LA County Sheriff's dispatcher.
Minutes later, the women, both Palmdale residents, were detained outside the bookstore where one was found with marijuana in her possession and the other had an arrest warrant for a prior marijuana possession citation. The women were then arrested and cited by LA County Sheriff's Department. After the two women were cited, they were released.
Arrests for possession of marijuana are not a common thing at Antelope Valley College, according to Deputy Miguel Ruiz.
“There were four last year,” he said. “We have a relatively low amount compared to other community colleges I’ve worked at.”
The arrests mark an early success for the AVC’s new Cadet Program. The program was started this spring semester in conjunction with the LA County Sheriff’s Department. The program consists of ten AVC students, all of who are in the Administration of Justice Program.
The cadets are easily recognizable by the bright reflective vests they currently wear, although new uniforms are coming.
“They will have the word ‘cadet’ on the back,” Ruiz said.
Since the cadets are also students at AVC, they will be able to direct other students and answer questions because they will be familiar with the campus and its procedures and policies. The cadets will also provide a physical presence that may deter a variety of nefarious acts.
Reporting suspicious activity is not limited to only the cadets. Any student or staff member can contact the Sheriff’s office for a non-emergency by dialing 661-722-6399 from a campus or cellular phone, or by dialing *80 from a campus payphone.
In case of emergencies, students and staff can dial 4444 from any phone on campus, including payphones, or they can dial 911 from off-campus or cellular phones.
-By Kevin Michael Kramer
