Police confiscated six pounds of marijuana, 200 steroid pills, syringes, scales, and $1,000 in cash when the Muncie-Delaware County Drug Task Force raided a Beeman Hall dorm room Tuesday evening.
John Lam, 19, Schererville, was arrested on charges of dealing a narcotic, dealing marijuana, possession of marijuana and maintaining a common nuisance after he sold drugs to an undercover officer.
Lam's roommate, Carlton Barlow, was arrested on charges of dealing marijuana, possession of marijuana and maintaining a common nuisance.
Police said the marijuana seized in the raid is worth between $13,000 and $18,000.
"This is one of the largest busts ever made in the dorms," a task-force investigator said. "Generally we find such large amounts off campus."
The roommates had been under investigation for several months after the task force received a tip from someone in the residence hall.
According to the task force, Lam was able to conceal such a large operation by having lookouts in the hall that would warn him of any suspicious people or activities.
Residents of fourth-floor Beeman declined to comment on the arrests, but many students from neighboring halls said the bust came as a surprise.
Robb Cohne, of fourth-floor DeMotte Hall, said he had a class with Barlow and couldn't believe he had been arrested.
"I never saw that one coming," Cohne said. "(Barlow) was a nice guy as far as I know."
Jerrilyn Townsend, a resident of Woodworth Complex and acquaintance of Barlow, described Barlow as nice and outgoing.
"He is one of the sweetest guys I have met," Townsend said. "I almost cried. It was so unexpected. That's just not Carlton."
Neither Cohne nor Townsend said they knew Lam.
Tichenor Hall resident Nick Riedman said he was disappointed that such a large drug bust took place in his building.
"I got the impression that this is one of the nicer halls," Riedman said. "There are always going to be people who do that kind of thing, but I really didn't expect it to happen over here."
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