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York Police Target Stores Selling Drug Accessories
Pubdate: Sun, 05 Jun 2005
Source: Liberal, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2005, Metroland Printing, Publishing and Distributing
Contact: http://www.yorkregion.com/yr/newscentre/liberal/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2347
Author: Patrick Mangion
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?228 (Paraphernalia)
YORK POLICE TARGET STORES SELLING DRUG ACCESSORIES
'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.
"We received a number of complaints from people asking why some stores are
allowed to sell (drug paraphernalia) when there's a crackdown on grow
houses," Insp. Tatz said.
Police investigated 36 stores in Newmarket, Aurora, King Township and East
Gwillimbury.
Nine stores received warnings, while owners of two Main Street, Newmarket
stores were charged.
Lotus was one of them.
Police said more than $10,000 worth of smoking instruments were seized and
the owners were charged with selling illicit drug paraphernalia.
Mr. Chaplin said it was the first time in the four years they've been open
that the store courted police attention.
They're questioning why now.
Mr. Chaplin acknowledged the store sells smoking pipes, commonly used for
illicit drug use, along with hemp clothing, jewelry and cosmetics.
However, all of the stores in violation were issued warnings and told
officers would return within two weeks to ensure drug paraphernalia was
removed from their stores.
Seven of the nine stores complied, Insp. Tatz said.
Besides Lotus, officers also charged the owners of Times Square Convenience
on Main Street south.
According to Town of Newmarket bylaws, however, both Main Street shops are
legitimate operations, confirmed town spokesperson Wanda Bennett.
The town has bylaws and zoning restrictions in place only for body rub
parlours and stores selling second-hand goods.
Insp. Tatz said front-line officers were receiving complaints about gadgets
being sold in the community that could be used to smoke an illegal substance.
Main Street is part of Newmarket Councillor Joe Sponga's ward. He said the
sale of drug paraphernalia doesn't fit into the town's plan to revitalize
its downtown.
"Other shop owners were concerned kids were going into these stores and
buying drug paraphernalia," Mr. Sponga said.
"I love to see people shopping on Main Street. It's what they're shopping
for that concerns me," he added.
For police, it's a no-win situation, Insp. Tatz said.
"If police don't do anything, people will question why we aren't doing
anything about (drug paraphernalia). When we do, people question why we're
doing it," he said.
"It's low down on the scale of crime," he admitted.
"Just because certain crimes aren't seen as a threat to public safety, does
that mean we should stop enforcing it?"
"The Criminal Code is full of crimes that aren't considered a threat to
public safety," he added.
"It's up to the courts to decide. I think it's realistic to get a
conviction," he added.
Meanwhile, Mr. Chaplin and Ms Wolfe have not appeared in court and say they
will consider all of their options.
In the meantime, they have started an online petition in response to the
police crackdown.
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