Pot traces behind Trayvon Martin suspension

An undated photo of Trayvon Martin. / CBS

(CBS/AP) SANFORD, Fla. - Trayvon Martin was suspended from school because traces of marijuana were found in his book bag, a spokesman for the teen's family said Monday.

Martin, 17, was suspended by Miami-Dade County schools after the residue was discovered in a plastic baggie in the book bag, spokesman Ryan Julison said.

"We maintain that regardless of the specific reason for the suspension, it's got nothing to do with the events that unfolded on Feb. 26," Julison said.

On that date an unarmed Martin was shot by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman. Martin was visiting this central Florida town with his father while he was suspended from school.

Also Monday, state Department of Juvenile Justice confirmed that Martin does not have a juvenile offender record. The information came after a public records request by The Associated Press.

Month since Trayvon Martin death, fury grows
Trayvon Martin case escalates into a cause
Growing outcry over Trayvon Martin's death

Zimmerman, 28, claimed he shot Martin in self-defense and has not been arrested. Because Martin was black and Zimmerman has a white father and Hispanic mother, the case has become a racial flashpoint that has civil rights leaders and others leading a series of protests in Sanford and around the country.

In another development, city officials appointed a 23-year veteran of the Sanford police department as acting chief. The appointment of Capt. Darren Scott, who is African-American, came days after Chief Bill Lee temporarily stepped down as the agency endured withering criticism over its handling of the case.

Commissioners with the city of Sanford will also meet Monday for the first time since they gave Lee a no-confidence vote.

Trayvon Martin's parents, Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton, plan to address them, following a rally and march expecting to draw thousands. The meeting was moved from City Hall to the Sanford Civic Center to accommodate the expected large crowd.

Trayvon Martin's parents join rally in Fla.

[hemusbull]

This two individuals - the teen and the keeper - are from the same boat. They are with far from perfect behaviour, with some criminal activities in their respective records...Two tugs and one absolutely expected result...Now everyone plays the card of political convinience! I know, there is a victim, but are you surprized from this tragic event? I'm not at all!

[andie52]

All of this could most likely been avoided if Zimmerman had identified himself to Martin. Treyvon had no idea why George was stalking him and I'll believe all these so called injuries when we have the real facts. In the meantime George used deadly force when it wasn't necessary or warranted.

[credibility2]

The facts and evidence haven't been revealed. And, leaking stories about Martin may not seem relevant, but it paints a different picture about Martin being all sweetness and decency. Lastly, black on black crime is what is responsible for young blacks dying at the hands of other young black gang-bangers and not Zimmerman-types. So, why then aren't these mobs protesting against that and re-examining how they live and raise their young? This tragedy is being used as an excuse for many to cry racism. And, the heinous racist hate group, New Black Panther Party, is advocating a vigilante bounty mentality and the gullible are falling for it. I also don't see or hear any national outrage when innocent police are murdered by blacks.

[lilneacy101]

the things that should be important in this case is what happen on the night of the killing, not if trayvon smoked weed, got suspended, passe d english class, or whatever else they want to sit and put out on this child he was walking back to someone house UNARMED and was killed people these days need to realize whats right is right and whats wrong is wrong. if you are walking home and someone is following you in an unmarked car u will get scared u will nervous don't matter who you are, Zimmerman was told not to follow him he continued to follow him so to me Zimmerman had intentions on doing something he had no business doing. Another thing thats making me mad is people saying how he was dressed is just as guilty as zimmerman just because people dress a certain way doesnt give someone else the right to kill them point blank period. im lookin for justice in this case.

[rider1956]

dead men tell no tales

[baileyccc]

The Sanford Police Department is under the gun for such a poor investigation that they leaked this information that has nothing to do with the murder of Trayvon to try to take the pressure off of themselves. This inept corrupt Police Department is the reason for this mess. Either they will pay a high price or the elected officials will feel the wrath of the voters as a result of these keystone cops.

[m0u5y]

If we're really going to bring in questionable history, Zimmerman would take the cake. He stalked his ex girlfriend, has a bad history with the cops, has terrorized the neighborhood and is a conspiracy theorist... NOT a real neighborhood watch-person. This crazy person still has a gun and now knows he can get away with murder. What kind of precedent are we setting here? So anyone that wants to get away with murder just has to approach their target, provoke an attack then shoot them dead. Seems like Florida should lose their right to bare arms until they learn some common-sense. A person should be able to run down the street screaming that UFOs are coming and not worry about some blood-thirsty wacko shooting them. Again, if Zimmerman had been black, he would be facing the death penalty. If the kid had been the one with the gun and had shot Zimmerman, according to this interpretation of the law, he would have been defending himself because he was obviously feeling threatened, but of course he would still be facing the death penalty because of his skin color. I'm as white as you can get, but I know unscrupulous rationalization when I see it. Shame on those who protect this murderer. I hope you never have to face this kind of tragedy yourself.

[lilneacy101]

i agree with you all the way

[UForgotPoland]

Marijuana makes you lazy and hungry, it usually doesn't get you into the mood that causes you to supposedly attack a rentacop

[mick7744]

by askagain March 26, 2012 8:25 PM EDT

Have you ever heard of citizen's arrest? It is allowed by law in many states.

*************************************

The National Sheriffs' Association, which sponsors the neighborhood-watch program nationwide, states that ...

"Patrol members do not carry weapons," have no police power, and should "not attempt to apprehend a person committing a crime or to investigate a suspicious activity." Lastly, not following the guidelines can result in serious consequences: EACH MEMBER IS LIABLE AS AN INDIVIDUAL FOR CIVIL AND CRIMINAL CHARGES SHOULD HE EXCEED HIS AUTHORITY"

Stand THAT ground, George...

If there was even an instant after Trayvon Martin saw that Zimmerman had produced a firearm and gave up resisting the hulking 240 pounder who had pursued, accosted and most probably got physical with him to prevent the "perp" from escaping...even that single instant makes George Zimmerman guilty of murder in the first degree.

What was the interval between the time the shouting for help stopped and the gunshot? .How many seconds...or minutes?

It is not so shocking that a cop wannabee could precipitate this needless killing of an apparently innocent young man and than claim self defense (as the survivor)...

But that the Sanford Police would go to such incredible lengths to bolster his claim to having been justified WITHOUT investigating anything that might cast doubt on Zimmerman's version of events...committing lapses of procedure that may well be criminal...if not so incompetent as to warrant their speedy institutionalization to prevent them from being a danger to themselves and others

No drug and alcohol tests for someone KNOWN to have just shot an unarmed young man to death...but an instant one on his dead victim? ( but alas...no joy)

No search of his open SUV some distance away for alcohol or drugs? No...that might have shown that Zimmerman had no legal right to be carrying a concealed firearm and they wouldn't want that...

Why did theSanford Police` refuse to release the 911 tapes until the media demanded it...and never even interviewed the young lady who was on the phone with Treyvon Martin as he was being stalked and confronted?

What about charges that eye-witnesses had their statements "corrected" by detectives at the scene?

THOSE are questions that should have people in the streets...demanding to know how this shameful travesty could still occur in the United Sates of America?

This Zimmerman is clearly guilty of having precipitated this tragedy that ended with the death of an innocent young man...and hopefully, will eventually get...if not what he actually deserves...at least some serious time to reflect on race...and to know what it's like to have REALLY intimidating people impose their will on you...

But what these inept (or corrupt) police and fear-mongering politicians have tried to do here here requires the closest scrutiny on every level.

We just can't have this anymore, people....

[Transatlantique]

Pot should be legal, and the only big deal is that he was underage.

[rwsmith29456]

agreed

[m0u5y]

Could be worse -- he could have been on one of those energy drinks or prescription opiates/methamphetamines which are legal.

[sandiegopete]

Basically, what the State of Florida want's is to reduce costs by cutting back on law enforcement and they figure a citizen's vigilance force taking the place of the uniformed police is a good place to start. Why do they need police officers when they have empowered each citizen to execute suspected criminals. Magnum Force but by the civilians.

One thing, under Section 776.013 a person who sees a plain cloths or undercover police officer engaging in an arrest could well believe the police officer was a low life criminal engaged in doing bodily harm to the person who was actually being arrested and citizen could pull out his or her weapon and fire on the police officer.

If Florida want's to get rid of its police officers there should be better ways to do it than putting out a license to kill for local vigilantes.