Sunday, August 22, 2004

Justice Department fails to locate civil rights From the Charlotte Observer: Officers cleared in drug raid at S.C. high school. CHARLESTON - A guns-drawn raid at a Goose Creek high school last year did not violate civil rights laws, and the case is closed, the U.S. Justice Department says. ... Using a drug dog, police found no drugs or weapons in the Nov. 5 raid that frightened children, provoked marches and lawsuits and brought national media attention and the resignation of Stratford High School's longtime principal. Fifteen officers entered Stratford's main hallway and ordered 130 students to the floor. They used plastic ties to handcuff 18 students. School officials opened and searched 17 book bags police dogs reacted to. S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster, the state's chief prosecutor, criticized the tactics used as ill-suited for a school and said they created a "dangerous tinderbox situation." Fortunately, civil lawsuits are still in the works. There must be a clear message given that this kind of police work is unacceptable. Update: Sister Geoff at the very interesting The Superlative Suppository had this one a couple of days ago. Be sure to check out the Suppository -- another good blog addressing the drug war. 11:12:31 PM |  drug policy | Links | permalink | comment []

Pot grower charged with murder Several readers sent me this story: Pot grower faces murder charges for firefighter deaths. Daniel Brough was growing marijuana in a basement closet in Philadelphia. The lamps dried out the wood in the closet and started a fire. Two firefighters (Fire Capt. John Taylor and firefighter Rey Rubio) died in the resulting blaze. Now Brough is being charged with third-degree murder, marijuana possession, involuntary manslaughter and causing a catastrophe. Brough was stupid and created a dangerous situation. But that list of charges is a bad case of prosecutorial piling on in a very emotional situation. I'd like to know if the charges of murder, involuntary manslaughter and causing a catastrophe would have been filed if the cause had been someone carelessly leaving a candle burning. One other point. Please note that these two firemen are also drug war victims. Marijuana hurts nobody, and there would be no reason to grow it in a closet if it was legal. 10:45:32 PM |  drug policy | Links | permalink | comment []