Drugs? In Aspen??
Posted on 12/09/2005 4:24:09 PM PST by elkfersupper
A dramatic drug bust at two Aspen restaurants busy with the après ski crowd has created a rift between the two major law enforcement agencies at one of Colorado's premier ski resort towns. Fifty-three officers from a number of law enforcement agencies, some with guns drawn, stormed into two Aspen restaurants during the busy after-ski time last Friday.
The raids happened shortly after 4 p.m. and netted about 2 ounces of cocaine, $3,000 in cash, nine arrests for drug involvement and 11 for immigration law violations.
Pitkin County Sheriff Bob Braudis, an opponent of the "war on drugs" who believes education and treatment are better answers to drug abuse, didn't know about the raid until after the fact, even though his jail was packed to overflowing.
"The sheriff should have been informed and the police chief has rightly apologized,'' Aspen Mayor Helen Klanderud said Wednesday. "It's extremely important that the agencies cooperate and have a positive relationship.''
Late Wednesday afternoon, Braudis remained in a closed-door meeting with Police Chief Loren Ryerson and City Manager Steve Barwick. None returned phone calls for comment.
The city manager scheduled a special work session Jan. 17 for the City Council to discuss the raid and the town's police policy regarding drugs.
"Our paramount concern is the safety and well-being of visitors and citizens of Aspen," Klanderud said. "Our police are not to do undercover investigations or use paid informants. We need to get all the facts of what happened here."
On the other hand, Klanderud said, the city policy requires police to cooperate with other law enforcement agencies in drug investigations.
Ryerson told the Aspen Daily News that the sheriff's views on drug enforcement played a factor in Ryerson's decision not to tell the sheriff about the raids. But he repeated Tuesday that he made a mistake by not informing Braudis in advance.
The newspaper also quoted Ryerson as saying guns were drawn by some officers during the raid.
The raid was carried out by officers from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Colorado Department of Revenue and police from Aspen and Snowmass Village, according to law enforcement news releases.
It was DEA agents who did the undercover work, Ryerson told the Aspen Times.
Braudis has long called for the legalization of drugs, calling the war on drugs a failure and saying addicts should see doctors, not go to prison.
Councilman Torre, who goes by only one name, said it was good that the sheriff and police chief "are trying to mend fences."
"But the city doesn't support undercover work, and our police department doesn't," Torre said. "It's a matter of community trust and public safety, and we believe in education and treatment as more effective with drugs. It's not necessarily done with a bust, but to intervene."
The controversy is the talk of the town, said Councilwoman Rachael Richards.
"The city does not turn a blind eye to drug activity," she said. "And we as a council certainly aren't told of these things in advance. But there seemed to be a risk factor with these tactics and so many innocent bystanders."
Drug Dealer?
...which is why the Aspen mountain gondolas NEVER smell of hootch.../sarcasm
Eleven dope dealers off the streets is still eleven dope dealers off the streets. And the most lethal mistake that you can make in a situation like this is insufficient force.
Unless, of course, you had your evening meal with your spouse / significant other interrupted by guys in Ninja outfits, automatic weapons and flash-bang grenades.
Are you referring to me, or one of the people mentioned in the story?
Right, and I will bet you he's a fricken Democrat. I don't defend Democrats or their stupid statements.
A braindead Democrat.
Cancel that. Still looking, asking. Might have something soon.
Right, and I will bet you he's a fricken Democrat. I don't defend Democrats or their stupid statements.
Since you don't seem to know enough about the American political system to know sheriffs are elected I don't imagine your 'defense' would be of much use or interest to either party.
SO9
Not you.
The commissioner with only one name.? "Torre."
Why is the sherrif upset he was not notified before the raids?
Did the DEA, Colorado state police, Federal Immigration, etc...believe that the sherrif could not be trusted with the information?
Did law enforcement from the "real world" believe that the Sherrif would have tipped off his friends (the drug dealers)?
So the feds busted a few of the otherwise untouchables in Aspen. Cheers to the feds! I hope they clean up the Mob in every part of the State!
Manager of the New York Yankees?
What, are you crazy? I used to get a 1/4 ounce for about $350 back in the day...mid 80's...
Thank you for your patience.
Looking.
I have a friend who is a contractor in Aspen. He will eventually tell me.
Sorry.
I wonder if "Torre" is his first name or last name or did his parents only give him one name or is he a rock star want-a-be?
or...
Some Sheriffs are elected and some are appointed. Varies from County to County.
The problem with an elected Sheriff is you have a politician running a police department. The problem with the appointed Sheriff is there is no direct citizen control. All that being said, it has been my experience that even the appointed Sheriffs are very political, they just don't have to stand for election.
I had one too many zeros. sorry
Drugs? In Aspen??
no sweat...I still think it grand standing for a few thousand in dope and cash. I think someone got their ass chewed after that day was over, and it wasn't from the pro-dpoe sheriff!!
No problem.
Ask your friend about Hunter Thompson and the sherrif.
I read somewhere that Hunter Thompson bragged that he never denied himself anything (drugs,guns,etc). If the sherrif was his best friend, were they doing drugs together? Who was the dealer? Etc?
This might explain why the sherrif was bypassed by the Feds.
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