The Cornell University Police Department and the New York State Police Southern Tier Community Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET) have completed a one-month investigation into narcotics sales on campus that resulted in the arrests Wednesday (May 5, 1999) of three employees.

The arrested employees worked in a dining facility in Willard Straight Hall.

Bruce A. McDonald, 36, of 603 Winston Court Apartments, Ithaca, was arrested at work by members of the Cornell Police and Ithaca Police departments on a Tompkins County court arrest warrant for criminal sale of marijuana in the 3rd degree, a Class E felony. Further charges are pending. He was remanded to Tompkins County Jail and was scheduled to be arraigned on May 6. McDonald has been employed as a chef at Cornell.

Curtis O. Alexander, 32, of 2435 Mecklenburg Road, Enfield, was arrested at work and charged by New York State Police with unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation, and criminal possession of a weapon in the 4th degree, a Class A misdemeanor. He has been employed as a cook. He was issued an appearance ticket by state police to appear in court at a later date.

Gene Allen Freese, 26, of 4699 Water St., Locke, was arrested by Cornell Police and charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation. He is employed as a cashier at Cornell. He was issued an appearance ticket and is to appear in Ithaca City Court May 12.

In the combined operation, search warrants were executed at several locations in Tompkins County by members of the state police, the Tompkins County Sheriff's Department, Ithaca police and Cornell police. While executing a search at 603 Winston Court Apartments, officers seized approximately one-half pound of marijuana, scales, written records and one-half ounce of cocaine. In the search of a residence at 2435 Mecklenburg Road, police recovered a quantity of marijuana and a weapon.

While executing the arrest and search warrant at Willard Straight Hall, officers were assisted by the Ithaca Police Department's K-9 unit.

Scott Hamilton, senior investigator at Cornell Police, coordinated the investigation.

"The quality of teamwork among the area law enforcement agencies and the district attorney's office has been excellent," Hamilton said.

Cornell's policy is to maintain a drug-free workplace. That policy states:

"It is the University's policy to maintain a drug-free workplace. The unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession, use, or sale in the workplace of a controlled substance, as defined by state or federal law, is prohibited.

"The University will not condone criminal activity on its property, or on property under its direct control and will take appropriate personnel action up to and including required participation in a drug abuse assistance or rehabilitation program or termination."