Heroin is the enemy of Litchfield County. Addiction to it, and other illegal drugs, has an adverse impact on everyone. First there is the addict, who lives a life in search of their next fix. Next are the addict's friends and family members who constantly have to deal with instability associated with addictive behavior and drug abuse. Then there are police agencies that are stretched to the limit trying to control crimes committed by addicts who are looking for ways to pay for their next fix. Finally there are the residents and business owners. These are the people who are often victims of the addict's crimes. They are also the people who pay the taxes for increased police forces, caused by higher crime rates due to addicts committing crimes looking for money to pay for their next fix. The business owners are also the people who unknowingly employ addicts who can be unreliable and dangerous. Heroin use is a problem whereever it occurs, even in Litchfield County. [end]
TORRINGTON - Around 2,000 people strolled Main Street from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday night checking out more than 300 show cars to help the city's Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program. "We had many more cars this year," D.A.R.E. Officer Chris Donovan said as he directed the display vehicles to their parking spots. "Last year we had 180, this year we are over 300." The 17th Annual Friday Night D.A.R.E. Cruise, sponsored by the Torrington Police Department, Gary's Hilltop Auto repair, Price Chopper, Royals' Garage, J&M Suppliers and The Yankee Pedlar Inn, is the main funding event for the D.A.R.E. program, Donovan said. [continues 587 words]
TORRINGTON - Narcotics arrests are on the rise in Torrington as city police focus on putting a network of city drug dealers out of business. "We have seized more than $160,000 in the last three months and made more than 30 arrests," Torrington Police Lt. Todd Schaller said. From downtown to the East End, Torrington police are conducting surveillance in neighborhoods throughout the city, interviewing drug users as well as using traditional strategies to flush out dealers. Some of the arrests from the city drug trade include (listed from most recent): [continues 647 words]
WINSTED -- Hemp leaves painted on a High Street home do not violate any laws, officials said. The resident of the 24 High St. home is Christopher Seek-ins, 26, who was arrested Oct. 20, 2005, by Winchester police and charged with the cultivation and possession of marijuana, possession with intent to sell and possession of drug paraphernalia. About 185 marijuana plants were found in his home, police said. "If he's the owner of the house, that's true," Deputy Chief Robert Scannell said when asked if Seekins could paint his house however he wishes. "There may be some building codes or zoning regulations regarding signage that I'm not aware of that may be violated." [continues 229 words]
TORRINGTON - Gleaming classic and rumbling muscle cars rolled into Main Street in Torrington on Saturday to support the city's D.A.R.E program. Police Officer Richard Dowd, who organized the event with several D.A.R.E police officers, waved to the driver of a yellow Chevelle and smiled when a Model T Ford puttered past the Warner Theater. "What a great day! We were a little nervous about the weather but it can't be any better than this," he said. [continues 281 words]
TORRINGTON-- The past year has been a tough one for Torrington's Drug Abuse Resistance Education program. Funding for the program, which is geared toward city public and parochial schools, was drastically reduced at the state level by close to $13,000. Additionally, extensive periods of wet weather also played havoc with DARE's fund-raising opportunities. The annual downtown car show, the only source of DARE income aside from the state level, was postponed three times due to the threat of rain this summer. [continues 295 words]
LITCHFIELD -- A repeat drug offender was given not just another chance to stay out of jail, but a second chance at life. When Anne Bailey left the courtroom in Litchfield on Friday, her eyes were damp with tears of relief. Up against a 10-year jail term for prior drug convictions, Bailey was sentenced to probation, on the condition she continue to participate an intensive drug rehabilitation program. In 1998 Judge Alexandra DiPentima ordered Bailey to serve a year in jail of a 10-year suspended sentence, and five years probation for sale and possession of narcotics with intent to sell. [continues 256 words]
Millions of students each year apply for federal financial aid to help pay rising college costs, but most have no idea a drug conviction can get their application tossed in the trash. Any drug conviction from age 18 on is grounds for rejecting a federal financial aid application. Marisa Garcia, 20, of Santa Fe Springs, Calif., knows first-hand how costly a minor drug conviction can be. Garcia was convicted of misdemeanor possession of marijuana in March 2000, fined $415 and then subsequently was denied federal aid for one full school year. [continues 1131 words]
WASHINGTON - Not only has the war on drugs been a multibillion-dollar failure, but it has unjustifiably thrown thousands of people in prison while lying about the dangers of marijuana, New Mexico's governor said Monday. Gov. Gary Johnson, a Republican, kicked off a visit to the nation's capital by meeting with leaders of a college student group that shares his goal of drug legalization. Johnson is the country's highest-ranking elected official to advocate legalizing such drugs as cocaine, heroin and marijuana. [continues 610 words]
BOSTON - Roughly 40,000 people packed the Boston Common on Saturday for the 10th annual rally in support of the legalization of marijuana. Police said they arrested 72 people at the rally, most on drug possession charges. "I've been coming here since I was 14," said Faith Pinkos, 19, of Providence, R.I. "I don't smoke myself, but I don't find anything wrong with it. It's not as dangerous as alcohol. It's not hurting anybody." Activists with the Committee to Reform Marijuana Laws used this year's gathering to collect signatures for a proposed November 2000 ballot question that would decriminalize the possession of marijuana. [continues 189 words]
