OBVIOUSLY, those in charge at World Anti-Doping Authority (WADA) headquarters haven't had the privilege of being offered a ticket to the raffle at a club sports match in the Far North. Not the one yours truly was asked to buy, quite some time ago you understand. Let's just say the prize for the $2 ticket wasn't a meat pack, weighed about an ounce, and could easily be on-sold for about 200 times that amount by sitting outside a nightclub in the early hours of a Saturday morning using half a roll of tin foil and some imagination. It certainly made for an interesting topic of conversation on the bus trip home, particularly considering half of my teammates were policemen. Had a WADA official been on hand with about 30 urine testing bottles, however, it is likely several almost talented sportspeople would have been forced to employ lawyers, and probably seek new employment. [continues 463 words]
Clanton Mayor Billy Joe Driver said he is still hoping and praying the city's drug dog, reported missing more than two weeks ago, will be found. "I just keep hoping he will show up one day," Driver said Tuesday morning. "We have looked and looked and have a $1,000 reward. There's just not much more we can do at this point." On Friday, June 28 Clanton Police officials reported the city's lone drug dog, Briggs, had turned up missing from his holding cage earlier in the week. [continues 173 words]
WETUMPKA - Local law enforcement agencies received a nice gift Tuesday morning. A gift they had earned, but a gift nonetheless. During a morning press conference, U.S. Attorney Leura Garrett Canary and U.S. Marshall Jessie Seroyer presented a total of $120,000 to area agencies operating within the 19th Judicial Circuit, which includes Autauga, Elmore and Chilton Counties. Chilton County Sheriff's Department received more than $10,000 in the allocation. "This will really help out in future drug cases," said Chilton County Sheriff Billy Wayne Fulmer. "The money will go to equipment and future drug buys." [continues 125 words]
It seems the stories roll out every week with the same headlines: "Four arrested on drug charges," "Meth lab busted up," or "Local man faces drug charges." The only difference is the names of the suspects. For the past few months, Chilton County citizens have seen story after story about efforts of local law enforcement on the drug industry - but a difference is being made. "We have been told from drug dealers that they had to move their operations outside of the county because we were cracking down too much," said Chilton County Sheriff Billy Wayne Fulmer. "We may not be cutting down on the usage but we are definitely making tougher on those who deal and produce drugs in the county." [continues 281 words]
For Chilton County Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Shane Mayfield every grand jury is a bittersweet experience. On one hand he gets the chance to see criminals he and his staff built cases on face their indictments - on the other - he has to explain to the criminals how they were caught in the first place. "We have to change everything after each grand jury," Mayfield said. "We have to change our techniques, our undercover agents, our cars - everything." During the grand jury proceedings, the department is forced to divulge each part of their case on the suspect, in the process giving up trade secrets. [continues 301 words]
Agencies Combine In One-Day Search For 71 Suspects It was simply a show of force. A sign to area drug dealers, meth producers and drug users that area law enforcement agencies are for real. "When I came into office I promised to cause those involved in drugs as much grief as they cause area families," Fulmer said. "With today's events we are doing that." Fulmer made those comments Friday while an estimated 30 agents from the Chilton County Sheriff's Department, Central Alabama Drug Task Force and the Alabama Alcohol Beverage Control Board Enforcement Division were out serving indictments and making arrests. The agents were taking part in a one-day "round-up" of suspects indicted during the recent Chilton County Grand Jury. Fulmer said agents were looking for 71 suspects. [continues 352 words]
