Pot traces behind Trayvon Martin suspension
(CBS/AP) SANFORD, Fla. - Trayvon Martin was suspended from school because traces of marijuana were found in his book bag, a spokesman for the teen's family said Monday.
Martin, 17, was suspended by Miami-Dade County schools after the residue was discovered in a plastic baggie in the book bag, spokesman Ryan Julison said.
"We maintain that regardless of the specific reason for the suspension, it's got nothing to do with the events that unfolded on Feb. 26," Julison said.
On that date an unarmed Martin was shot by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman. Martin was visiting this central Florida town with his father while he was suspended from school.
Also Monday, state Department of Juvenile Justice confirmed that Martin does not have a juvenile offender record. The information came after a public records request by The Associated Press.
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Zimmerman, 28, claimed he shot Martin in self-defense and has not been arrested. Because Martin was black and Zimmerman has a white father and Hispanic mother, the case has become a racial flashpoint that has civil rights leaders and others leading a series of protests in Sanford and around the country.
In another development, city officials appointed a 23-year veteran of the Sanford police department as acting chief. The appointment of Capt. Darren Scott, who is African-American, came days after Chief Bill Lee temporarily stepped down as the agency endured withering criticism over its handling of the case.
Commissioners with the city of Sanford will also meet Monday for the first time since they gave Lee a no-confidence vote.
Trayvon Martin's parents, Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton, plan to address them, following a rally and march expecting to draw thousands. The meeting was moved from City Hall to the Sanford Civic Center to accommodate the expected large crowd.