Officers in the drug and vice squad raided a Main Street store for the second time in two years. More than 600 pieces of drug paraphernalia were seized from Lotus after York Regional Police descended on the shop following an investigation that began late last year. A man and two women from East Gwillimbury, all in their late 20s, have been charged with selling instruments for illicit drug use. Last Wednesday, officers executed a search warrant at the Main Street shop where they confiscated drug-smoking instruments, grinders and oil extractors. [continues 190 words]
'Trying To Put Us Out Of Business': Owner Public complaints about area stores selling drug paraphernalia led to several arrests last week. But the four-day investigation and police sweep has at least two York Region shop owners fuming. Adam Chaplin and his girlfriend run Lotus in Newmarket and believe police are singling them out. "I really can't understand it. I think (police) are trying to put us out of business," Mr. Chaplin said. Because of the number of complaints, York Regional Police targeted shops selling pipes, bongs and other items that could be used for illegal purposes, Insp. Mark Tatz said. [continues 462 words]
Public Complaints Led To Sweep, Police Say Public complaints about area stores selling drug paraphernalia led to several arrests last week. But the four-day investigation and subsequent police sweep has at least two Main Street shop owners fuming. Adam Chaplin and his girlfriend, Alisha Wolfe, run Lotus in Newmarket and believe police are singling them out. "I really can't understand it. I think (police) are trying to put us out of business," Mr. Chaplin said. Because of the number of complaints, York Regional Police targeted shops selling pipes, bongs and other items that could be used for illegal purposes, York Regional Police Insp. Mark Tatz said. [continues 485 words]
While the number of drunk drivers threatening the safety of York Region motorists is on the decline, a new, equally troubling trend has appeared. "Narcotic-related charges are up substantially," York Regional Police Staff-Sgt. Tom Carrique said. As of Dec. 15, nearly double in fact. There has not been an alcohol-related fatality in the region since the end of November, just days after the launch of the holiday RIDE campaign, Staff-Sgt. Carrique said. Throughout the year, police have laid 54 alcohol-related charges, compared to 103 narcotic-related charges. [continues 261 words]
New Sobriety Testing Comes To York Several volunteersstepped up to the bar in the name of public-police co-operation earlier this week. Under police supervision, volunteers consumed varying types and amounts of alcohol to assist York Regional Police officers taking part in new standardized field sobriety testing yesterday and Tuesday, aimed at helping police get more alcohol and drug-impaired drivers off the streets. York is the first police force in Ontario to receive the specialized training, Staff-Sgt. Tom Carrique said. [continues 397 words]
Pot Possession Illegal But Liberals Poised To Decriminalize All indications suggest the decision by the Supreme Court of Canada to, once again, make pot possession a criminal offence may be a short lived endeavour. But York Regional Police Chief Armand La Barge promises police will use the opportunity to buck the message coming out of Ottawa by employing strict enforcement of the law before Prime Minister Paul Martin goes through with plans for decriminalization in the new year. Chief La Barge said he was pleasantly surprised by the ruling, adding it was just a matter of time before decriminalization legislation was introduced, however. [continues 334 words]
The first two days of a two-week police project aimed at stamping out York Region's "epidemic" of grow houses has already yielded $4.5 million in marijuana. Det.-Sgt. Mark Grant, head of drugs and vice, said more than 50 officers have teamed up with York's hydro utilities as part of Operation York Connection. The results mean there should be less marijuana on the streets, a decline in the number of homes with dangerous illegal hydro bypasses and a break for honest hydro consumers. [continues 381 words]
York Regional Police Chief Armand La Barge expects to lay more marijuana charges, not less, as a result of decriminalization. "They should have left well enough alone," Chief La Barge said, after the federal Liberal government announced new marijuana legislation. "This doesn't bode well for the future at all. (Police) needed some signal from the federal government that (marijuana use) is not an appropriate undertaking." Chief La Barge won't get any arguments from Liberal MP Bryon Wilfert, who would rather be debating other issues with less than a month before parliament breaks for summer. [continues 582 words]
The federal government's plan to decriminalize marijuana will assist organized crime by boosting demand while undermining efforts to shut down grow houses, according to York Regional Police Chief Armand La Barge. "We're sending out the wrong message at the wrong time," Chief La Barge said at Wednesday's police services board meeting. "We are not equipped to deal with youth, or anyone else, under the influence of marijuana the same way we are with alcohol." At a Liberal party fundraiser Tuesday, Prime Minister Jean ChrEtien told the audience a bill to decriminalize marijuana may be introduced as soon as June. [continues 254 words]
Newmarket Hydro has set up a snitch line, hoping to chase away marijuana grow-house operators with a habit of stealing power. The Against Community Theft (ACT) hotline was launched Monday and the local utility is encouraging citizens to report suspicious activity. "Analyse what you're seeing and call if you think something's not right," said Newmarket Hydro spokesperson Lorraine Thivierge. "You have to use a little common sense. You have to show respect for your neighbours. Not everybody's bad." [continues 353 words]
