Besides Peril To Health, They Are Further Victimized When Parents Are Arrested Jocelyn was 13 years old and had a broken ankle that hadn't been treated for two days. She was lying in the bed of a pickup next to her mother and another woman when authorities barreled onto the Ashe County property to serve a search warrant for a methamphetamine lab. The search turned up evidence of a lab and 15 guns, many of them loaded. Jocelyn asked members of the SWAT team not to destroy her homework, which was on a computer inside a trailer on the property. [continues 2839 words]
Portland has a big heart when it comes to helping. But handing over tax money to help a heroin addict inject poison into his veins seemed a little, well, stupid. Now, though, I'm starting to see things differently. After doing some research, I understand the public purpose of giving a drug addict a sterile hypodermic needle, bleach and condoms. These gift packages reduce the number of women who contract the virus from direct or indirect contact with drugs. They cut down on the number of babies born with HIV. And needle-exchange programs are the best way to safely dispose of contaminated syringes so they don't end up on our sidewalks and at our bus stops, parks and playgrounds. [continues 587 words]
A pinch of pot proved problematic for a Stevensville man, landing him in court for distributing the drug although no money changed hands. Eugene Rishel changed his plea Wednesday to no contest of criminal distribution of dangerous drugs for "returning a favor." Montana statute defines distribution as selling, bartering, exchanging, or giving away the drug specified. Rishel, while attending the Stevensville Creamery Picnic last August, was sitting in his wheelchair watching the festivities. A friend approached him looking to purchase some marijuana, according to Rishel. [continues 252 words]
Black women are used to bad hair days. But Lilnora Foster's bad hair day cost her an apartment in the newly renovated building at CHA's Hilliard complex, a mixed-income development on the South Side, when the public-housing resident tested positive for drug use. "They told me my drug test was positive. I don't do drugs," Foster said emphatically. "I do not do illegal drugs. Somebody did something wrong." Foster, who receives a disability check, volunteers regularly at her 8-year-old daughter's school, and is a full-time college student majoring in social work, did not let the matter drop. After receiving a positive result from a hair test at Concentra drug testing laboratory on the South Side, she went to the lab's North Side site for another test. When that test also came back positive, Foster went to her doctor at Mercy Hospital and got a blood test for a toxicology screen for 22 different drugs, including cocaine. [continues 685 words]
The Bitterroot Valley has been chosen to participate as a pilot community to implement a new drug awareness program. Montana Meth Watch will hold a free workshop for businesses and merchants to increase local awareness of the hazards of methamphetamine in the valley. The program is the first statewide prevention effort aimed at curbing the spread of methamphetamine, and is a critical step in reducing the availability of meth in communities statewide, according to its Web site. The state-run program will provide a free workshop on the use and production process of methamphetamine and what businesses can do to confront and stop drug use on a local level. It will help merchants recognize what common products are necessary for meth manufacture, and teach them what they can do to control these purchases. [continues 160 words]
A report is expected in early 2005 on whether any more police officers will be charged in the continuing fallout from a lengthy probe into the actions of Durham drug cops. Investigators continue to examine more than 50 drug enforcement unit case files, dating back to 2001, to determine if charges will be laid under the Police Services Act, said Durham Regional Police spokesman Dave Selby. Meanwhile, charges against several former members of the unit have been dealt with. Constables Phil Edgar, Dave McDougal, and Dave Wright pleaded guilty to charges of insubordination and received 20-hour suspensions without pay. [continues 139 words]
Snowboarder To Join Hockey Legends, Other Olympians In Induction Ceremony It was Feb.8, 1998, at the Olympic Games in Nagano, where Whistler's own Ross Rebagliati claimed the first gold medal ever awarded for snowboarding. It was an exciting giant slalom race, with Quebec's Jaysey Jay Anderson in front of the pack after the first run, and Rebagliati securely in eighth place. Mark Fawcett, the favourite to win the medal, blew out a binding on his snowboard on his first run, and would have to watch the race from the sidelines. [continues 558 words]
It is ridiculous for the courts to have to deal with the stupidity of the pharmaceutical industry and the physicians. Marijuana is illegal. Opium is illegal. We use the opium products daily in the form of morphine, Demerol and codeine. Even though we utilize the products of opium, it is illegal to use opium. Tetra-hydrocannibinol is the active ingredient in marijuana. Dronabinol is the synthetic active ingredient that is available in Marinol. Marinol has been available for years. Marinol is a product of Unimed Pharmaceutical Inc. It is a Solvay Pharmaceuticals Inc. company (901 Sawyer Road, Marietta, GA 30062). This drug is available by prescription. Marinol would give the patients their relief without smoking illegal marijuana. It would be like using the opium products without smoking the illegal opium. If the pharmaceutical companies and physicians would just inform the public and write prescriptions, the courts would not be "bogged down" in the ridiculous lawsuits trying to legalize marijuana. Gulfport [end]
City Lauds Effort To Clean Up Neighbourhoods OSHAWA - "Outraged" city residents looking to reclaim their neighbourhoods are being credited for their role in a drug sweep that netted 37 street-level dealers, as well as firearms and thousands of dollars worth of drugs. Oshawa Mayor John Gray was among the officials in attendance Friday afternoon when Durham Regional Police displayed drugs, cash and guns seized during a five-month undercover operation that resulted in 300 charges. He said police responded to concerns raised by city officials, who heard from downtown residents that they'd become fed up with drugs, prostitution and violence plaguing their neighbourhoods. [continues 404 words]
Officials with the Stillwater High School Parent Teacher Association hope to form a task force of parents, teachers and students to combat an OxyContin abuse problem at the school. PTA President Carol Lewis told an audience Tuesday at the Performing Arts Center it will take a combined effort to overcome the drug problem. "I hope you leave here encouraged," Lewis said. "It took us a while to get into this position and it will be a while before we get out of it. We want to have as many parents involved as we can to help solve this problem." [continues 624 words]
Fifteen-Year Durham Police Veteran Tom Andrews Docked 40 Hours Of Pay And Reprimanded The former head of the Durham Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit has been docked 40 hours pay and issued a reprimand after pleading guilty to insubordination and discreditable conduct. Det. Tom Andrews, a 15-year veteran of the service, entered the pleas last Wednesday. The pleas and penalty were part of a deal worked out between the police service and Det. Andrews and his lawyer, Bernie O'Brien. Both sides adhered to a pledge not to comment beyond releasing an agreed statement of facts that was read during a brief tribunal at police headquarters in Oshawa. [continues 534 words]
Docked 40 Hours Pay for Misguided Attempt to Support Colleagues OSHAWA The former head of the Durham Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) has been docked 40 hours pay and issued a reprimand after pleading guilty to insubordination and discreditable conduct. Det. Tom Andrews, a 15-year veteran of the service, entered the pleas Wednesday. The pleas and penalty were part of a deal worked out between the police service and Det. Andrews and his lawyer, Bernie O'Brien. Both sides adhered to a pledge not to comment beyond releasing an agreed statement of facts that was read during a brief tribunal at police headquarters in Oshawa. [continues 528 words]
It's such a relief that the media attention paid to Da Kine cafe has led to the cleanup of crack addicts, crystal-meth and heroine users in the downtown core. What a fantastic show of force the Vancouver police department put on for the TV cameras when it raided Da Kine last Thursday. I guess we can all feel safe and secure now. There has to be some middle ground here. Although marijuana is still illegal, how much of our property crime (among the worst in North America), can be attributed to pot smokers? How many violent crimes have been committed by pot smokers? Let's get our priorities straight. Make pot legal, tax it and invest the tax dollars on health care, drug prevention and education for our youth, and law enforcement so we can tackle the real problems facing our city. Gary Mitchell, Vancouver [end]
Chief expresses relief, but many officers still angry OSHAWA -- A 20-month investigation into allegations of criminal activity by former Durham Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit members has concluded, with no charges being laid. Chief Kevin McAlpine told reporters Thursday morning that the extensive OPP probe into allegations including assault, theft, misappropriation of funds, perjury and damage to property has resulted in "no reasonable prospect of a criminal conviction." "I personally feel some relief on my own behalf, and on behalf of the members," the chief said during a press conference at police headquarters in downtown Oshawa. [continues 1058 words]
Oshawa Woman Wants To Know Why Methadone Caused Mother's Death OSHAWA -- The drug was supposed to help her, not kill her. Almost a year later, Darlene Jenkins is still asking why methadone, the drug prescribed to help her 44-year-old mother battle her long-time dependency on painkillers, ended up causing her mom's death. "I'd never even heard of the stuff until she told me she was on it," Ms. Jenkins, 25, said. "She obviously wanted the help to get off what she was on, so I was all for it." [continues 905 words]
Relatives say the victim was on cocaine and had heart problems. Police say the officers used restraint. Denver police officers used a Taser stun gun four times on a man who was high on cocaine Thursday night before he started breathing heavily and later died, according to the police chief. But Chief Gerry Whitman said the man attacked the two officers ferociously and the officers tried a variety of nonlethal tactics to subdue him, including wrestling with him and hitting him with a police baton. [continues 564 words]
Forty-eight kids from across the county gathered Wednesday at Camp Guilrock to work together to solve the murder of Felix Navidad. "You get to work as though you are a police officer," said Tommy Griffin, Drug Abuse Resistance Education officer said to the campers. "We're going to give you the other side. You get to see what police do to solve a crime." In its tenth year, D.A.R.E. Camp gives children the opportunity to work on team building activities and have a little fun along the way. Each day this week, the kids participated in different crafts and had adventures, including a trip to Celebration Station. [continues 548 words]
WARNER SPRINGS -A joint task force seized millions of dollars in marijuana near this rural community north of Julian early Monday morning, an official with the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement said. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and the San Diego County Sheriff's Department, along with Customs, participated in the removal of about 10,000 marijuana plants with a street value of between $3 million and $6 million, Customs spokeswoman Loren Mack said Monday. [continues 139 words]
OPP Investigation Of Durham Police Prompts Delays In Courts Part two in a two-part series on the drug unit investigation DURHAM -- The ongoing investigation into allegations against Durham Region drug unit cops has halted the progress of a number of high-profile cases through the courts. Although no charges have been dismissed while the courts await the outcome of an Ontario Provincial Police investigation begun in February of 2003, the delays are unsettling, said Alex Sosna, who represents the Federal Crown attorney in drug cases in Durham Region. [continues 772 words]
DURHAM -- Durham Regional Police brass are engaged in a "witch hunt" in the wake of allegations of misconduct by members of the drug-enforcement unit (DEU), say cops targeted by the probe. Some sources say an investigation begun by the Ontario Provincial Police in February of 2003 is unlikely to produce evidence of criminal actions among the 11 former DEU cops who are the subject of the probe. They say that laying Police Services Act charges against as many as 30 officers - many of whom were only peripherally connected to DEU activities - is a face-saving effort by a police administration that launched an extensive and costly investigation based on allegations made by one former member of the unit. [continues 1830 words]
