Senior class prez banned from school after bust Police say CDS confiscated from Manalapan High School teen is believed to be cocaine BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer A restraining order barring the senior class president at Manalapan High School from returning to the school was issued after police arrested the young man in the school. Manalapan Police Department Capt. Lou Moreto said Eric Goldman, 18, of Manalapan, was arrested at the high school, Church Lane, on Feb. 15 and charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS), possession with the intent to distribute and possession of a CDS on school property. Police said 10 vials of a substance that is believed to be cocaine were confiscated by school authorities. According to the Monmouth County Sheriff's Office, Goldman's bail was set at $15,000. His bail was paid and he was released. Moreto said a drug offender restraining order was issued against Goldman that bars him from returning to the high school until the matter is resolved to the satisfaction of school authorities. Moreto said the Manalapan Police Department's school resource officer at the high school, Officer Jonathan Suydam, became involved and the charges were lodged against Goldman after school authorities confiscated the substance believed to be cocaine. When asked how Goldman was initially confronted and where the alleged drugs were taken from him, Moreto said he did not know the circumstances except to note, "The school [administrators] had some concerns that he [Goldman] was under the influence and they then involved the school resource officer." Moreto said he could not elaborate further since Suydam was not present when the vials containing the substance were confiscated from the student. Moreto said Suydam does not get involved in school "issues" unless he is asked to and was therefore not involved in recovering the alleged drugs from Goldman. According to Moreto, Suydam maintains a daily presence at the high school in his capacity as the school resource officer. According to Ilse Whisner, the Freehold Regional High School District public information officer, the school resource officer is employed at the high school in a "nonpunitive capacity." In a written statement, Whisner said the school resource officer's role is to "work in an educational and supportive capacity as a teacher and a mentor by providing guidance, counseling and/or redirection to students. By teaching lessons in existing classes, the school resource officer brings a law enforcement perspective to classes such as driver's education and criminal justice. He or she is also a valuable source for classroom resources." Whisner said she could not comment on any aspect of the incident except to clarify the roles that law enforcement personnel and school authorities have in the matter and what options are available to Goldman and school authorities. Whether Goldman will be able to return to the high school to complete the school year will be decided following a superintendent's expulsion hearing, according to Whisner. She said the student's options for the remainder of the school year may include completing his senior year through home instruction or through attendance at the FRHSD adult high school. Three years ago when Manalapan Township Committeeman Joseph Locricchio ran for office, he cited a published report at the time which indicated there was a problem with drugs in Manalapan High School and sought to make it a campaign issue. Commenting on last week's arrest, Locricchio said he would like to see the "handcuffs" removed from police in their battle against drugs in schools. "I would like to see legislation adopted that takes the handcuffs off our police and lets them patrol our schools when and in the way they need to," said Locricchio, who is not running for re-election to the Township Committee this year but is seeking the Republican nomination to run for state Senate in the 12th Legislative district.