Charges May Face Teen Who Turned In Pot

SANTA CLARITA — The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said Tuesday it will seek charges in Juvenile Court against an Arroyo Seco Junior High School student who turned over marijuana to his parents.

Tyler Hagen, 13, of Saugus could face a possession charge, while three other Arroyo students could be charged with offenses ranging from possession to the sale of a controlled substance on school grounds, according to Lt. Tim Peters of the Santa Clarita sheriff’s station.

Sheriff’s officials, without giving specific details, cast doubt on Tyler’s story that he turned the drug over to his parents in order to help a scared friend dispose of the pot.

The department said in a statement that an investigation has “determined that the initial story from the juveniles could not be supported by the facts.”

Tyler’s parents, Chris and Linda Hagen, who could not be reached, have maintained that their son acted responsibly by handing over the marijuana, contending that drug-prevention programs encourage children to go to their parents when they have questions or problems with drugs.

The family’s attorney, Gloria Allred, declined comment.

After reviewing statements by witnesses and the boys, however, sheriff’s officials disputed Tyler’s account, saying he did more than report his friends’ activities to his parents.

“Marijuana was purchased and possessed on campus and partially consumed after school at the home of one of the subjects,” Peters said.

“There were four people involved in this, including Tyler Hagen,” he added. “There were other witnesses who knew that the subjects, including Tyler, were in possession of the marijuana on school grounds.”

School officials were roundly criticized after Tyler was forced to serve a five-day suspension beginning Monday for not going to officials immediately to report the violation of the district’s zero-tolerance policy on illegal drugs.

Michael von Buelow, the William S. Hart Union School District’s assistant superintendent for personnel and student services, said school officials were discouraged by the public outcry after Tyler’s suspension.

Peters said school officials acted properly by suspending Tyler and added that investigators have consistently backed the school district during the probe.

Peters acknowledged that there were conflicting statements about what transpired, “some which have been made public and some that have come as a result of our criminal investigation.”

But he said, “the bottom line is that these kids violated school policies because they had marijuana on school grounds.”