Posted on 12/13/2002 1:57:36 PM PST by Pahuanui
Eugene, Oregon's, Whiteaker neighborhood sounded like a war zone around dawn on October 17, and residents are fighting mad. It wasn't a terrorist attack, though, just another example of a drug war run amok. Police serving a search warrant for an alleged marijuana grow enlisted an armored personnel carrier and 45 SWAT team officers armed with shotguns and automatic rifles to raid a cluster of houses in Whiteaker.
But after throwing flash-bang grenades, kicking in doors, and handcuffing four people -- including one nude woman and one woman dressed only in underpants and a t-shirt -- for hours in a room in one of the houses, police came up empty-handed. Police also admitted to placing a black bag over one of the women's head until she agreed to cooperate with them, the Eugene Register-Guard reported on December 5.
Neighbors are not impressed. Since the raid six weeks ago, resentment has only mounted. "It was completely inappropriate to have that kind of militaristic action there," said Whiteaker Community Council president Majeska Seese-Green. "We don't want it to happen in Whiteaker again, or any other neighborhood," she told the Register-Guard. The community council will issue a formal statement condemning the raid, she added. Seese-Green and three other residents also took the complaints to the Eugene Police Commission, where they questioned the wisdom and safety of such raids.
Not that the police are listening. Instead, officers involved trotted out their tired old excuses for treating the people they are supposes to serve and protect as if they were enemy combatants. "We rely on the element of surprise and speed," said Captain Steve Swenson, head of special operations for the Eugene Police Department. "The third element is the overwhelming display of force when you come through the door," he added, sounding more like Colin Powell preparing to invade Iraq than a police officer making a marijuana bust.
Except it was a marijuana bust that wasn't. No drugs were found, nor any weapons, nor have any formal charges been filed against the victims of the raid. Police have returned all items seized, and the county DA told the Register-Guard the case won't go to the grand jury unless more evidence is developed. Oops.
It may or may not happen more often in poor neighborhoods. But it doesn't happen only in poor neighborhoods. Donald Scott, heir to the Scott Paper fortune, was killed in a "drug" raid because the L.A. County Sheriff wanted his $6 million house. Poor people can't supply the LEOs with the Jaguars, Vettes and Beemers they like so much.
In the mid 90s, USA Today had a weekly summary on Wednesdays of the "asset forfeitures" (no charges or guilty verdicts needed) by the feds. The average for the 3 or 4 weeks I kept track was over $16 million. Since then, more and more local, county and state agencies have joined the gravy train. (Witness LA's recent "anti-prostitution" decree.) Can't imagine what the weekly take is now.
The reality of it is horrifying, but you have to admit, there's nothing funnier than watching some jackass unknowingly recreate one of the funniest comedy skits in history.
You stand a greater chance of getting struck by lightning while bathing than you do of being rousted by JBTs.
Unless you're using dope.
I would not defend such tactics for something as harmless as pot...
Look, here is who your heroes are:
Board of Advisors for DRCNet (where this "news" story came from):
Rick Doblin
Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies
Charlotte, NC
Alternate job description: I get stoned in my mom's basement every night...
Kevin Gray
ACLU National Board; former campaign manager, Jesse Jackson and Tom Harkin
Columbia, SC
Ooooh boy. This guy is a staunch conservative. You guys have hitched your wagons to a good 'un.
Mike Gray
author, screenwriter
Los Angeles, CA
La la land....
Jon Holmes
ACLU of Massachusetts Drug Policy Task Force
Boston, MA
Hmmm....ACLU, Massachusetts. Isn't this a bastion of conservatism?
Mario Lap
Foundation for Drug Policy & Human Rights
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Look! He's from the stoner Mecca. You just know he's got some fair and impartial advisories.
Tod Mikuriya, M.D.
San Francisco, CA
Tod. San Francisco. 'Nuff said.
Why don't you guys quit pretending you're conservatives and be brave enough to come out of the closet and admit that your flaming liberals? If it walks like a duck...
Now, just what, exactly, was your point?
Actually, the county wanted Scott's land, totaling hundreds of acres, which abutted a State Forest. For years he wouldn't sell, so they ginned up the drug raid. As for the house, when Mr. Scott's widow wouldn't settle out of court, it mysteriously burned to ground. Just a conincidence I'm sure. (She settled shortly after that. I'll give her credit for seeing the writing on the wall and not ending up dead herself).
Hey dude: my "conservative" credentials are intact. Why don't you be a "man" and call me at my office anytime Monday thru Friday 9:00 Am to 1:00 PM and I'll explain to you why you are an ashole. Nicholas Thimmesch, Communications Director, NORML (xxx)xxx-xxxxx.
My response:
1. If you have something to say to me then please say it to me in a public forum. I will not put up with implied or actual threats.
2. Please understand that my definition of being a "man" doesn't involve calling you up so you can practice using swear words on me.
3. The last time I heard someone say something similar to me was like...dude...25 years ago in high school.
4. Those are some pretty nice office hours. Do you have classes before and afterwards you need to attend? Anger management? Freshman calc?
5. NORML - National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. Conservative? Hah! If anyone considers themselves a true conservative on these issues look who you are in bed with.
6. If you're a "Communications Director" and truly want your threat to have maximum effect then you should at least learn how to spell your insult correctly.
Admin Moderator: Please note my objection to receiving this from Nicholas Thimmesch.
I didn't say it didn't happen. It was creatively rewritten by the website. And since drug legalization is a liberal leftist issue then as a conservative I am not surprised that the liberal leftist press puts the same bias and spin into their story.
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