BCPD, school officials investigating school steroids use, By: Debby Schamber and Gabriel Pruett


7/12/07

BRIDGE CITY —Bridge City Police Department officials confirmed Thursday they are investigating a steroid ring at the Bridge City High School.

BCPD Major Joey Hargraves said his department believes the ring began in April. Police are currently awaiting drug analysis from the Texas Department of Public Safety to verify exactly what substances are being dealt at the school and the best way proceed with the case.

“We have collected evidence and submitted it to the DPS crime lab for analysis,” said Hargraves. “We will move forward when the results have been received.”

An anonymous Bridge City High School source reported a former football and track star is being investigated for possession and distribution of steroids.

New Bridge City Athletic Director Cris Stump, who was not on the job when the alleged steroid situation took place, said steps have already been taken to make sure both students and parents within the district are aware of the dangers of the drug.

“We talked to all the kids, both girls and boys from seventh grade up,” Stump said. “There are two points I tried to get across and the No. 1 point you try to get across is steroids can kill you.”

“Another point I hit on is that (steroids) are a controlled substance. It is like having cocaine and you will go to jail,” Stump added.

Texas state law mandates that delivery of a controlled substance, a third-degree felony, carries a penalty of 2 to 10 years in jail; possessing the drugs, a Class A misdemeanor, has a penalty of a fine not to exceed $4,000 and jail time not to exceed a year.

“Our stance on this is we have zero tolerance when it comes to all controlled substances,” Stump said. “The state has now gone along with us here recently. It is a serious issue, especially now since people can order them online and have them shipped to their house.

“It is not going to be tolerated. We do have an extracurricular code of conduct,” Stump said.

Stump added he has plans in place to speak with the student body once the school year starts and will also ask each sport’s head coach to speak with his or her players.

“I plan on having parent-athlete meetings before each sport,” Stump said. “We have to teach parents what to look for. It is not just a Bridge City problem. Unfortunately, it is a high school athletic problem.”