US Marshals, SUPD make arrests for on-campus drug possession

On Monday, Nov. 6, officers with the Southern University Police Department, along with the U.S. Marshals Service, arrested four individuals at 12:30 p.m. near the Mildred Satterwhite Hall residence dormitory for drug related offenses.
SUPD officials said two non-students and two registered students, both of whom are members of the Southern football team, were arrested and charged with possession of marijuana and the intent to distribute.
“Directors of housing should do more room checks in the student dorms,” said Charlene Anderson, captain of SUPD. “If you suspect anything coming from the rooms, be concerned and search the rooms.”
Anderson said since the university is a public-open campus, and the dorms serve as temporary homes for the SU student body so “we cannot bust in the room without a warrant.”
However, Anderson did say there are officers on foot patrol who are watching for any suspicious acts. She also said if housing directors suspect any illegal actions going on with dorm residences, they should call SUPD immediately.
“That gives us (SUPD) the right to come-in and make a bust,” said Anderson.
According to Anderson, the U.S. Marshals contacted SUPD months ago to inform the department they were conducting an investigation on a student on campus and asked for their cooperation with further investigation on the university’s premises.
“Each person is innocent until proven guilty,” said Robert Bennett, Dean of Student Affairs. “Just because they have been arrested doesn’t mean that they are automatically guilty.”
According to Bennett, bail for each of the Southern students has been set at $50,000 each.
Bennett said the students are more than welcome to come back to school, but are prohibited from living on campus because of the situation they put themselves in.
“As Dean of Students, once the trial and jury has been decided, the decision is left with us to either expel, suspend, put them on probation or give (a) warning based on the evidence received,” he said.