Pubdate: Wed, 11 Aug 2010
Source: Times-Herald, The (Vallejo, CA)
Copyright: 2010 The Times-Herald
Contact:  http://www.timesheraldonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/993
Author: Jessica A. York

MEDICAL MARIJUANA USER RIPS VALLEJO POLICE INVESTIGATION

A Vallejo man claims he is "the only detective on the case" of his
stolen credit card and marijuana-infused brownie, reportedly taken at
gunpoint outside a bar early Sunday morning.

The man, who asked that his name not be published, said he and two
friends were held up by two armed assailants in a parking lot near the
My Office bar on Sacramento Street at about 1:40 a.m.

Vallejo police arriving to retrieve information about the holdup
allegedly required proof that the man was legally permitted to possess
marijuana. He said he had willingly offered information to a 911
dispatcher that his medical marijuana edible, needed to counteract his
insomnia, had been stolen.

"That's the whole reason why they treated me like a criminal, because
of the marijuana," the man said. "I just felt like when the cops came
out, they threatened to arrest everyone around me when we did nothing."

Vallejo police Lt. Abel Tenorio said he was unfamiliar with the
details of the holdup investigation, but said asking for proof of
eligibility to carry marijuana is standard procedure.

"Seeing as how it's not covered in the report, I don't know the
circumstances of that," Tenorio said. "It looks to me that the officer
focused on the robbery."

The man said he tracked the purchases made on his credit card to
businesses around his home. In fact, he said he willingly gave the
suspects his card's PIN code just so he could track them. When he
asked bank and gas station officials to share their surveillance
footage of the people making the credit car purchases, however, he was
told that only police officers were allowed access.

Tenorio said that four of the department's investigators are
investigating two homicides -- one reported the day before and the day
of the holdup.

The man, who is not allowed to own a gun because of a recent marijuana
possession charge, said he fears for his life.

"They only stole about $40 from me, but my point is if these people
don't get off the street, they're going to end up shooting somebody,
if they haven't already," the man said. 
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