Student arrested and charged in case of spiked drinks at local high school, police say

A Valley High School student was arrested Tuesday afternoon in connection with allegations of students ingesting drinks spiked with illegal substances at the school.

Armani Deshon Ransom, 18, was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance (Class D felony), unlawful distribution of a controlled substance (Class B felony), chemical endangerment (Class C felony) and minor in possession of alcohol, Valley police Maj. Mike Reynolds said Tuesday in a news release.

Ransom was arrested at the school and transported to the Chambers County Detention Facility, where he was booked and will be held pending bond. Juvenile petitions also were signed for four students charged with minor in possession of alcohol by consumption. The investigation continues, Reynolds said.

At approximately 11:45 a.m. EDT Monday, the school’s resource officer was called in reference reference to a student who had ingested an unknown substance and became sick, Reynolds said in an earlier news release Tuesday.

“The student stated that they were given a drink by another student and that it possibly contained codeine,” Reynolds said. “During the initial investigation, officers learned that two students, one of which is 18 years old, had brought the adulterated drinks to the school from home and had passed them around to at least five other students. Two of the students were taken to East Alabama-Lanier Hospital for treatment and released.

“The parents of the involved students were called to the school, and several of them stated that they would have their children tested for illegal substances. . . . Some of the drink that was passed around has been recovered and will be tested by forensic sciences.”

Mark Rice, 706-576-6272, @MarkRiceLE.

This story was originally published October 2, 2018 at 12:03 PM.