Texas police reportedly pose as high school students to bust drug ring

Members of a Texas narcotics task force reportedly posed as students for eight months at a Houston-area high school to bust a drug ring allegedly run by students.

The Houston Chronicle reports six students in the Pearland Independent School District were arrested and handed a total of 10 charges following the operation by the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Task Force, which started in August of last year. Four of the students are adults and two are minors.

The task force seized cocaine, marijuana, Alprazolam and Tramadol from students at Pearland High School and Dawson High School. The Pearland Police Department and Pearland ISD assisted in the operation.

The adult student arrested at Pearland High School was 18-year-old Aaron Coleman. Three other students arrested at Dawson High School were identified as Kevin Lambert, 18, Matthew Van Richardson, 18, and Jonathan Gonzales, 17.

Charges included the delivery of marijuana, delivery of a controlled substance and delivery of a dangerous drug.

The operation took a page from the 1980s TV series "21 Jump Street" and the 2012 movie of the same name. In both the movie and show, young undercover officers pose as students to bust a drug ring at a local high school.

Lt. Chris Reioux of the Brazoria County Narcotics task force told the newspaper his department had conducted several “Jump Street”-style operations in recent years.

"I don't think anyone suspects that their classmate is an undercover cop," Reioux said. "With the recent release of the 'Jump Street' movies, I think they're a little more apprehensive, but it's more of a joking matter – 'you're not "21 Jump Street" are you?'

Reioux also said he hates the “Jump Street” movies.

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