Cops: Man Tried to Frame Girl With Drugs, Gun

A former Clearwater High School student’s elaborate plan to frame a girl for drug and weapon possession on campus backfired when he found himself facing criminal charges instead.

According to the Clearwater Police Department, James R. Harrison, 18, drove to the campus on Aug. 31 and planted contraband items inside a 17-year-old girl’s car. What Harrison didn’t know, however, was that witnesses happened to spot a suspicious pickup truck near the student’s car and noticed two males inside.

In an effort to carry out the plot, police say Harrison called police and Crime Stoppers to report the location where a “drug sale” was going to occur, the agency wrote in an email to media. The caller told police the girl’s first name, as well.

When police acted on the tip and searched the girl’s car, they found a loaded .38-caliber Smith & Wesson revolver, a hunting knife and a bag that contained 52 grams of marijuana. The girl adamantly denied knowing where the items came from.

Police believed her.

An investigation was launched that led police to Harrison’s doorstep. He was arrested on Sept. 3 and admitted to detectives he was behind the scheme, the email said.

For his troubles, Harrison now faces four criminal counts for planting drugs and weapons in the girl’s car. He was booked into the Pinellas County Jail on armed burglary, trespassing on school property with a firearm, possession of marijuana and removal of a firearm serial number charges.

Harrison was released from jail in lieu of $55,000 bond, jail records indicate.

The relationship between Harrison and the victim is unknown at this time. The girl’s name is not being released.

Booking photo courtesy of the Pinellas County Jail