County Officers Conduct Drug Sweep At Central Regional

Central Regional High School was in a lockdown drill for a period of time Wednesday morning while county investigators conducted a drug sweep in the school, according to school authorities.

In a robocall message to parents and guardians, district officials said the sweep by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and members of the Ocean County Sheriff’s department was being conducted and that students were being kept in class via a lockdown drill for the duration of the sweep.

The sweep was being conducted to help keep the school safe, district officials said.

Results of the sweep will not be announced, authorities said.

Al Della Fave, spokesman for the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, has said during previous sweeps at schools around Ocean County that the goal is to identify issues, not cause schools or districts to be labeled. Typically the school districts request sweeps, authorities have said.

If drugs are found, “we advise the school officials and parents so that they will be aware of an issue and can take corrective action,” Della Fave said.

The sweeps have been conducted in middle schools and high schools in Ocean County since 2013 to try to deter teens from using drugs.