28 Granville students sent home from prom

GRANVILLE – School officials and police are saying there was no clear evidence of any Granville High School students being intoxicated at the school prom April 18.

But alcohol was found on a privately rented bus for 28 students, and those students were sent home even though school officials were unable to determine if any of them were intoxicated, Superintendent Jeff Brown said.

The Sentinel was contacted by a parent Saturday who claimed that more than 40 students arrived at the prom intoxicated and that a “party bus” full of intoxicated students was involved.

Brown responded that the allegation is factually incorrect.

Police were called to the Bryn Du Mansion, where the prom took place, at 9:45 p.m. on prom night, according to a police dispatcher’s report.

The report stated that three officers spoke with school officials in regard to the incident and were told the bus driver found the alcohol on the bus after the students disembarked and reported it to a Granville officer on duty at the prom, said Police Chief Bill Caskey. That officer called in the officers who were on regular duty, the chief said.

Caskey said police were unable to determine whom the alcohol belonged to and therefore did not file charges.

In a statement via email Monday, Caskey said, “To my knowledge it was a simple case of an unknown student/students being in possession of alcohol. The situation was handled by the school, as there was nothing to indicate who possessed the alcohol. As such, there was no need for police action.”

Brown said that alcohol was found in three locations on the bus, and that all the students who arrived on the bus were brought back out of the prom for questioning.

Because it could not be determined if any of the students were intoxicated, based primarily on appearance, the decision was made to remove them from the event and have their parents pick them up, Brown said.

Caskey said no Breathalyzer tests were given and would not have been given in that situation. Brown said parent involvement would have been required if Breathalyzer tests were given to students younger than 18.

“There would have to be a criminal offense related to it, such as driving while intoxicated,” Caskey said.

Brown added that there were no suspensions connected with the incident, which could have resulted because use or possession of mood- or mind-altering substances on school property or at school-sponsored activities is against school policy.

“We did not have specific evidence to render consequences to individual students,” Brown said.