Drugs seized from student's car at Seminole High

A man was arrested on charges of drug possession after Pinellas County sheriff's deputies found a half-pound of marijuana, an array of prescription pills, drug paraphernalia and nearly $2,000 in cash in his car at Seminole High School.

The charges stemmed a seizure in February in which deputies found drugs in the car of Alexander Perna, 19, of 10770 Spring St., Largo, while he was a student at Seminole High School, located at 8401 131st St. N.

The State Attorney's Office reviewed the case and an arrest warrant was made available today, said Cecilia Barreda of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

Perna was arrested about 12:30 p.m. today at North Pinellas County Secondary High School,  at 1960 E Druid Road in Clearwater. It was unclear whether he is now a student there.

He faces charges of felony possession of marijuana with intent to sell, two counts of felony possession of prescription drugs and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

Authorities got a tip in late February that there may be a weapon and drugs in Perna's car. It was searched after deputies couldn't reach Perna and a police dog alerted that there were drugs in the car. Deputies found no weapon.

--Stephanie Garry, Time staff writer