Story Archive

Saving the Armed Forces from Fishermen Since 2013

Cody Chitwood, 17, a senior at Lassiter High School in Marietta, Ga., loves to fish — “sometimes twice a week,” he says. After fishing at his favorite spot, he left his poles and tackle box in his car, which he then drove to school. That day, school officials ordered a dog search of the parking lot, which they do a couple of times during the school year. The dog triggered on Chitwood’s car, and it was searched. Inside the tackle box, police found three knives, including one designed to fillet fish, and a fourth in the driver’s door pocket. Chitwood says with the blessing of school authorities, the police officer told him that “Instead of making a scene out of you, we’ll put a warrant out for you and you can turn yourself in at the jail.” Really? Criminal charges? You got it: “carrying a weapon in a school safety zone” — a felony. Chitwood was also suspended for 10 days by Principal Chris Richie under the school’s zero tolerance weapons policy. The family has hired an attorney, since a felony conviction will derail Chitwood’s career plans: after graduation, he had planned to join the U.S. Air Force. (RC/Marietta Daily Journal) ...He wouldn’t have been caught had school officials not been on a fishing expedition.