Pubdate: Wed, 14 Aug 2013
Source: Dallas Morning News (TX)
Copyright: 2013 The Dallas Morning News, Inc.
Contact: http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/send-a-letter/
Website: http://www.dallasnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/117
Author: Liz Farmer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/raids.htm (Drug Raids)

POLICE DEFEND GARDEN RAID THAT FOUND NO DRUGS

Arlington SWAT officers raided a garden commune this month but didn't 
find marijuana, only code violations.

Authorities received two complaints that those living at the Garden 
of Eden were growing and distributing marijuana in the 7000 block of 
Mansfield Cardinal Road, police Sgt. Christopher Cook said.

Cook said police worked with the city of Kennedale as they completed 
a search of the property Aug. 2. Several people were handcuffed 
briefly, the city says, before being released and allowed to continue 
tending the sustainability garden.

"No cultivated marijuana plants were located on the premises," 
according to a city statement. "Narcotics detectives and members of 
the tactical unit cleared the scene within 45 minutes."

But a post on the garden's blog says that the operation lasted hours, 
not minutes, and that police handcuffed eight adults at gunpoint, 
mowed the grass, destroyed plants and removed materials planned for 
use in sustainability projects.

"We have been targeted by the system because we are showing people 
how to live without it," said Shellie Smith, who is described as the 
garden's landowner.

Cook said that it's not uncommon to use SWAT to execute a drug search 
warrant and that the people were treated professionally.

"Yes, they were initially handcuffed; however, once it was determined 
it was secure, they were taken out of handcuffs," Cook said. 
"Typically we wouldn't do that, but they were compliant."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom