Source: St Paul Pioneer Press (MN) Contact: FAX: 612-228-5564 Website: http://www.pioneerplanet.com/ Pubdate: Thu, 29 Jan 1998 ARRESTS FOR DRUG SELLING DROP, THOSE FOR POSSESSION RISE Arrests for selling drugs decreased by 15.5 percent in Wisconsin during the first six months of 1997, but arrests for drug possession continued to increase, a state report released Wednesday said. The Wisconsin Office of Justice Assistance report showed arrests for possession increased by 6.2 percent. Overall drug arrests increased by 0.8 percent, from 10,698 during the first six months of 1996 to 10,782 in the first six months of 1997. Drug arrests increased by 6.9 percent between the first six months of 1995 and 1996. "I think the numbers didn't change much overall, which is important in that the numbers have gone up consistently for the past four or five years," said Tom Eversen, state crime analyst. "Maybe this represents a slowdown in how fast drug arrests have been going up in recent years."