Pubdate: Wed, 08 Mar 2006
Source: Herald Sun, The (NC)
Copyright: 2006 The Durham Herald Company
Contact:  http://www.heraldsun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4071
Author: BriAnne Dopart
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/women.htm (Women)

DEPUTIES SAY MORE WOMEN BEING CHARGED WITH DRUG SALES

DURHAM -- Deputies with the Durham County Sheriff's 
Anti-Crime/Narcotics Unit say that they are arresting more women for 
the sale of crack and cocaine than in previous years.

"It's getting more and more redundant," said Sgt. Stan Harris, "Now 
more women are involved in the drug game."

One of the women Harris was referring to is Latisha Nicole Manning, a 
21-year-old mother of one.

On Monday, deputies arrested Manning on charges of possessing 0.99 
ounce of crack cocaine, 4.27 ounces of powder cocaine, half of an 
ounce of marijuana and 41 tablets of the painkiller Oxycodone.

Lt. Derek O'Mary, who heads the unit, said that Manning is a 
"midlevel player" in Durham's drug trade who provides a primarily 
Caucasian customer base with a substantial amount of crack and powder cocaine.

O'Mary couldn't say if he knows where Manning is getting her drugs, 
but said that he and his unit have been aware of her presence in the 
drug market for more than two years.

"We arrested her [in 2004] and then she was kind of off the radar for 
a little while," O'Mary said, adding that the deputy who originally 
arrested Manning was "keeping an eye out" for her.

The deputy's determination paid off when the unit was able to find 
Manning, allegedly "setting up shop" at 2505 Ellis Road.

"Once she got established there was a lot of traffic," O'Mary said. 
"I had [members of the unit] in the woods and then over there taking 
pictures of cars coming up and making transactions."

O'Mary said he allowed for some time to pass to allow for their 
suspect to get comfortable before authorities stopped a vehicle 
leaving the residence Monday afternoon and found cocaine on the 
vehicle's two occupants. The discovery provided the deputies with 
probable cause to search the residence and arrest Manning.

When deputies stopped Manning later the same day, she was leaving the 
residence with her small child, O'Mary said. While Manning apparently 
didn't have cocaine in the car with her, O'Mary said that she had 
empty baggies hanging out of her pocket, leading deputies to believe 
she may have destroyed or hidden evidence.

After arresting Manning, deputies searched her residence where they 
found a stash hidden in part of the molding around an interior door.

Often, O'Mary said, deputies are able to "turn" suspects by offering 
them a reduced charge in exchange for information about the 
individual's supplier.

But women, in both O'Mary's and Harris' experience, are less likely 
to give information.

"If they have [information], they don't tell," Harris said.

Manning was no different, according to O'Mary.

"She absolutely refused to give us info," he said. "She clammed up as 
soon as the cuffs were on."

According to a 2005 study funded by the U.S. Department of Justice 
that addressed gender differences in the drug market, women are more 
likely than men to receive cocaine and crack cocaine as a gift, and 
more likely to conduct business within the home.

Women are also more likely to obtain drugs from family members or 
friends, according to the study, and thus are less likely to give 
authorities the names of their suppliers.

"A lot of times we find young males are providing them [with the 
drugs] and then the women get hung up on the money," Harris said.

Manning was charged with trafficking in cocaine, possession with 
intent to sell or distribute cocaine, possession with intent to sell 
or deliver crack cocaine, possession with intent to sell or deliver 
marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and maintaining a 
dwelling for the purpose of selling a controlled substance.

After refusing to tell the deputies her child's name, she was also 
charged with resisting a public officer.

Manning was originally held at the Durham County Jail on $2 million 
bond, but was released when that bond was reduced to $750,000 Tuesday.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman