St. Petersburg man charged with selling marijuana to students

ST. PETERSBURG — Police arrested a St. Petersburg man Thursday who was suspected of selling marijuana to high school students at his apartment during their lunch breaks.

Officers with the St. Petersburg Police street crimes unit received a tip that Lemon James Lane, 61, of 5901 Fairfield Ave. S, Apt. 5, was dealing marijuana to students at Boca Ciega High School, officials said. Students were said to be leaving during the school's lunch break and walking less than a mile to Lane's apartment to buy the marijuana, police said.

Police set up surveillance on Lane's apartment Thursday morning. About 11:15 a.m., a Boca Ciega student came to the apartment and spoke with Lane, police said. He left a short time later. Officers detained the student and found a small amount of marijuana on him, police said.

Officers later returned to Lane's apartment and arrested him. In the apartment, they found a small amount of marijuana packaged for sale, officials said.

Lane was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to sell, among other charges.

Lane has three previous arrests in Pinellas County for drug-related charges, according to jail records.

The student was charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana.