University of Virginia Library

Police Arrest 22 In City Drug Bust

Officials Charge Four University Students
With Marijuana Possession, Peddling

By GEORGE LYON

Four University students
were among the 22 persons
arrested by city, county and
state police officers in a series
of drug raids Monday night and
early yesterday morning. The
arrests culminated about two
months of state police
undercover and investigative
work.

According to Charlottesville
Commonwealth's Atty. John
T. Camblos, the four students
arrested are College third-year
man Chesley A. Davis, charged
with possessing and
distributing marijuana; College
fourth-year man Michael S.
Malchiodi, four counts of
distributing marijuana;
Engineering fourth-year man
Jerry D. Beninate, distributing
marijuana; and Engineering
second-year man Shelton R.
Taylor, distributing marijuana
and LSD.

The arrests took place both
in Charlottesville and in
Albemarle County. No arrests
were made on the Grounds.

Among the 22 arrested
were 12 juveniles, all 16 or 17
years old. The juveniles were
all charged with either
possessing or distributing
marijuana.

Mr. Camblos identified the
other six adults as Henry M.
Shifflett, charged with three
counts of distributing
marijuana; Gary A. Werlau,
distributing marijuana; Theresa
L. McDaniel, two counts of
distributing marijuana.

Also arrested were Danny
R. Gearhart, two counts of
distributing marijuana and
Ronald O. Maupin, distributing
marijuana.

City and county police also
concluded a joint drug
investigation with the arrest of
Gregory V. Hall on charges of
distributing cocaine and
possessing marijuana, according
to City Police Chief John deK.
Bowen. Mr. Hall was arrested
in front of the Joywind store
on Main Street.

The 22 suspects were
processed at the city police
station and then were taken to
the city and county jails. Most
of the juveniles have been
released, Mr. Camblos said.

Bond ranged from $5,000
to $10,000 for all those
arrested. A hearing date has
not yet been set. University
Student Legal Atty. Ted
Hogshire said that although he
cannot represent the University
students because they are
charged with felonies, he is
assisting them in finding
attorneys and in arranging
bond.

The arrests were the result
of State Police investigations
conducted since January under
Lt. E.C. Riener. An observer
reportedly saw State Police
narcotics investigator Carl
Deavers on Madison Lane at the
scene of one of the arrests. Mr.
Deavers was involved in
narcotics investigations at the
University last year. According
to a State Police spokesman, he
is not assigned elsewhere.

Mr. Riener declined to
comment on Mr. Deavers'
involvement in the arrest. One
source in the local State Police
office said that Mr. Deavers
was in Charlottesville Monday.
Also, University Security Chief
Rea G. Houchens, who
witnessed the arrests on
Madison Lane, said that Mr.
Deavers was present, "but was
not participating in the
investigation."

Mr. Camblos refused to say
whether the arrests were part
of a general crackdown on drug
use in Charlottesville or if any5
more arrests are planned.

"It is what it is," he said. "I
don't see how a quote from me
on that would do any good."

County Commonwealth's
Atty. Charles R. Haugh also
refused to answer questions
concerning outstanding drug
warrants or investigations now
in process.

This was the first arrest of
University students since a
security officer arrested five
first-year students for
possession of marijuana last
November.

Concerning what action the
University will take, if any,
Assoc. Dean of Students
Annette Gibbs said, "The
University is concerned when
something like this happens.
Something of course will be
done."

"We can't do anything now
because this is all alleged," she
said. "We have not gotten in
touch with the authorities to
see what action will be taken.
It would not be fair to the
students or anybody else."