CHARLOTTE HARBOR — The Charlotte County Sheriff’s School Resource Officer at Charlotte Harbor Center arrested a 14-year-old boy for smoking marijuana on a school bus and passing it around to other students. The Punta Gorda boy, whose name is being withheld because of his age, was charged with felony possession of marijuana and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The incident occurred Feb. 7 when the driver of the school bus advised the SRO that marijuana was being smoked in the back of the bus. The SRO and assistant school principal boarded the bus at the bus ramp entrance and could smell a very strong odor of burnt marijuana. A 16-year-old girl with the boy burned a hole in her front pocket, where she placed the lit marijuana cigarette to hide it. Witnesses said the boy lit the joint, took several inhales, blew smoke out the window, and then handed it across the isle to the 16-year-old girl, who also inhaled.

The 16-year-old was arrested Feb. 7 for possession of marijuana and then released to a guardian. The boy was arrested Tuesday once the investigation was completed. He was booked into the Charlotte County Jail, then transferred to the Juvenile Justice Center in Fort Myers.