Teens Allegedly Smoking Marijuana Behind Elementary School

Braintree police broke up alleged marijuana dealing behind Highlands Elementary School on Thursday afternoon, arresting one 17-year-old boy and seeking charges against another.

Teachers told police that they smelled marijuana outside their windows after school on Thursday. When officers arrived at about 4:30 p.m., they found evidence of drug activity near where several youths were playing on the basketball court, Deputy Chief Russell Jenkins said in a statement.

One of the youths, 17-year-old Giovanni Rodrigues and his 17-year-old companion were called over to a vehicle that they had been seen sitting in and officers smelled the odor of weed, Jenkins said.

"A search of the vehicle uncovered two backpacks," Jenkins said. "Rodrigues claimed ownership of one backpack that contained a large bag of marijuana, six small bags of marijuana and a digital scale."

The other bag was claimed by the other youth and contained a digital scale. That youth was not named because he had yet to be charged. He was scheduled to be summonsed to court on the same charges that hit Rodrigues – possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, violating the drug free school zone and conspiracy to violate the Controlled Substances Act.