360 Crime Blotter: Cannabis; "Where's Dave?"
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Compiled by Gabriel Falcon
AC360 Writer
Welcome to the 360 Crime Blotter.
Some of the best crime writing comes from cops on the beat. But it’s not fiction. It’s fact, put down on paper in incident reports. We’re going to bring you their first-hand accounts. Taken from police department web sites, the official submissions run the gamut from mundane misdemeanors to the most serious of felonies. They all show what police officers across the country face 365 days a year. So let’s get started:
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Randolph, New Jersey Police Department
On Sunday, November 9th at approximately 1:50 p.m., the Randolph Township Police Department received a 911 emergency call from a twenty-six year-old female who reported that she had just been sexually assaulted by an acquaintance. The female victim further reported that the actor had left the incident location traveling in an unknown direction. Further investigation revealed that earlier in the day, the victim had contacted the actor and requested a ride to her apartment in Randolph. The actor complied with the request and provided transportation for the victim. While traveling to the victim’s apartment, the actor provided the victim with an Ambien sleeping pill to help her cope with not feeling well. Upon arrival at the victim’s apartment, both the actor and the victim went inside. Shortly thereafter, the victim fell asleep in her bed. While sleeping, the victim awoke only to find the actor sexually assaulting her. The victim immediately objected to the actor’s actions at which time the actor abruptly left the apartment. The victim was later transported to the hospital for treatment while the investigation continued.
Northern Illinois University Police Department
At 7:06 p.m., University Police responded to a report of cannabis emanating from a room in Grant North D-Tower. Officers knocked on the suspected room’s door and were allowed to enter. Upon questioning the inhabitants, one individual admitted to possessing cannabis and drug paraphrenelia. Officers arrested Eric R. Obrecht, 18, of Wayne for possession of under 30 grams of cannabis and drug paraphrenanlia. Officers booked Obrecht at the NIU Police Department, where he posted bond and was released.
Madison, New Jersey Police Department
On November 23, 2007 the Madison Police responded to a 911 call reporting an unknown individual was just inside the victims home. The caller advised that her husband was currently chasing the suspect on foot. Units responding to the scene were unable to locate the suspect or the victim’s husband. A short time later the victim’s husband returned home, stating that he was unable to catch the suspect. The victim stated that she had left her residence on Green Village Road at approximately 4:15 pm. Upon leaving she stated she left the front door open, but storm door closed. She was going for a short walk to mail some letters. She further stated that her husband was in the living room and her daughter was upstairs in her bedroom. The victim returned approximately 4:30 pm and upon opening the door she encountered a male inside her home. She asked why he was there, and he stated that he was looking for “Dave” and if she knew where “Dave” was. He went on to say that his brother is the project manager for the work being done on the property and that he would she her on Monday. The suspect then walked out of the home. At this point the victims husband came from the other room and asked his wife who she was talking to. She told him what happened and it was then that the husband chased the suspect. The victim noticed that her purse had been rifled through, and she discovered that a credit card and approximately $30.00 cash was missing.
Boulder, Colorado Police Department
Police arrested a male and female after witnesses reported a domestic disturbance in the 2200 block of Spruce. The 21-year old female was extremely uncooperative and combative and attempted to hit an officer in the face. She was arrested on non-domestic violence charges, Second Degree Assault and a warrant for Failure to Appear. The 23-year old male was arrested and charged with False Imprisonment. 08-15237
While pulling into the Boulder Police Department at 1805 33rd Street, an officer noticed a white male holding onto a light pole rocking it back and forth. As he was exiting his patrol vehicle, the pole broke from its base. The 36 year old male was arrested and charged with Criminal Mischief ($500 – $1,000). This case is closed. 08-15256
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In response to Dave's comment:
Under those arguments, we should re-enact Prohibition, since alcohol, although not actually an aphrodisiac, does reduce inhibitions and the ability to make rational decisions, and therefore can also result in unwanted pregnancy. I'm not saying that your arguments are invalid, only that they don't convince me that marijuana is a more dangerous drug than alcohol, which is legal under certain circumstances and which many people are able to enjoy responsibly.
Dave from Detroit I notice that you talked about the combination of booze and marijauna. The big problem on college campuses and in this nation is not the use of marijuana as an aphrodesiac, it is the abuse of alcohol. Binge drinking is what causes massive problems on college campuses. I have seen first hand college students die as a result of alchohol and I have seen long time drinkers deal with health and mental problems related to thier drinking and I have had family members die because of a college student drinking and driving. And what about tobacco and the health problems associated with yet we allow smoking of tobacco. I never saw anyone in college die, suffer health wise, or kill anyone because of their use of marijuana and I know long time pot smokers who are mentally capable and have no health problems. How many lives have been lost due to alcohol and how many lives have been made better by the use of medical marijuana. If we legalize we can regulate it, but as with anything there will be those who abuse it, get realistic. And as far as the safe-sex issue goes, that has alot to do with our society not emphasizing the need to teach safe sex in our school systems and many teens before they go off to college are not taught how to protect themselves sexually... all they have been taught is abstinence or what protection is but not how to use it or obtain it as you stated it does create problems for the less informed.
I really wish that these reports were from a Receiving Hospital-I worked in the Record Room on Midnights and will tell you a very different story on how harmless marijuana is-As all High School and College Students know, it is an Aphrodesiac. Combine with booze and Co-Ed Dorm Parties get very interesting. Sadly, this combination also cuts down on safe-sex and some of the gals get pregnant. Most of them are smart enough to use morning after drugs but it does create problems for the less informed...Marijuana is an accumulative drug that builds up in the fat cells of the body over time-including the layer between the brain hemispheres and has been known to cause memory loss. However, if you truly desire to join our fast growing population of Streetpeople-keep on puffing, you'll make it!
Bob Dylan said it all"everybody must get stoned"and if they did,this would be a non issue,because everybody would be laid back,man.
It's long past time that cannabis possession and use should be decriminalized. It ties up police and court time with what is arguably a victimless crime. I say arguably as because cannabis is illegal, gangs are the major source of supply, but this would change if everyone was allowed to grow their own, or legitimate business could grow and sell it. It would be the ideal transitional crop for tobacco growers.
I started smoking recreationally 40 years ago, and it certainly didn't turn myself or my smoking friends into listless, lazy good-for-nothings. Now I smoke for pain relief from cancer (not tobacco related). My doctor is allowed to prescribe morphine, a far more dangerous drug than cannabis, yet even medicinal prescription of cannabis is still illegal in most of the western world, despite many studies proving it's efficacy in cancer related pain alleviation.
Ofcourse , that was years ago ......
Here in Berkeley , Calif., if the cops find pot on your person, nine times out of ten , nothing happens except maybe consfication..... If the pot is rag-weed , they`ll laugh at you , if it`s the real good stuff , it will still get consficated , only you get the impression that it`ll become the officers personal stash ......
Don`t get me wrong , I`m only relating my experience with certain cops ,who patrol the area around the UC Berkeley Campus....
It is ridiculous that we waste time and money on busting pot smokers, just leave them alone, I mean so they weren't doing thier homework... they were probably watching the Cartoon network and eating cheetos.
At this point, it seems stupid still seeing people arrested for pot. In Amsterdam it's so ho-hum–most of the folks indulging are just tourists–and plenty from the U.S. It'd sure solve alot of this country's current financial problems if they'd just decriminalize it already. When it consistently shows up as California's biggest cash crop year after year, let's face it–that fight is finished.
So some University of N. Illinois students got caught with some weed huh? Well if they arrested everyone who had it on campus they'd have to get half of the students there! LOL
Cindy...Ga.