Fruita teens behind pro-meth fliers
Grand Junction correspondent
Aspen, CO Colorado
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. ” A pair of Fruita Monument High School students were suspended Wednesday after admitting to distributing hundreds of fliers promoting methamphetamine.
One of two boys involved ” neither teen was identified by name by school officials ” came forward to Fruita Monument administrators on Wednesday, said School District 51 spokesman Jeff Kirtland.
The suspensions are “relatively short,” he said.
“This was not part of any kind of class activity … it seems to be isolated,” Kirtland said of the duo’s actions.
Kirtland said he didn’t know the specific grounds for the boys’ suspension.
Fliers can only be distributed at school parking lots with the administration’s pre-approval, he said.
“It occurs more than we like (unauthorized flier handouts). Is it something that leads to disciplinary action? Probably not, unless it’s excessive,” Kirtland said.
Kirtland confirmed fliers turned up tucked under windshield wipers on vehicles in the school’s parking lot on Tuesday. That afternoon, hundreds of the fliers appeared on vehicles parked near Mesa Mall in Grand Junction and at Rim Rock Drive’s Wal-Mart location. A caller reported the fliers to authorities via a 911 call at 3:23 p.m., according to Grand Junction Police.
“Meth ” One man’s risk, is another man’s benefit,” the fliers read. “Trusted and used since 1887.”
They also advised, “Don’t Let the Man melt your ‘Ice’ ” and listed the “benefits of crystal meth use,” including weight loss, temporary improvement of athletic ability and increased awareness.
The boys won’t face criminal charges.
Police spokeswoman Linda Bowman on Tuesday noted the fliers, while touting an “ill-advised and distasteful message,” enjoy protection under the Constitutional right to free speech. However, Grand Junction officers removed the fliers at Mesa Mall and Wal-Mart.
Neither Mesa Mall or Wal-Mart sought to press charges, Bowman said.
Fruita and Grand Junction are located in far western Colorado.
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