Police in South Carolina taking a bite out of crime.
It seems the police in Richland County South Carolina are in the middle of an investigation that when completed will have gone a long way to stopping a growing crime wave in that county.
Columbia television station WIS-TV was first to report earlier this week that eight arrests had been made, all related to the party where Olympic Gold Medalist Michael Phelps was photographed smoking a bong. After the now infamous photo of Phelps was published, Sheriff Leon Lott started an investigation into the party with the aim of possibly bringing charges against Michael Phelps.
A lawyer for one of those arrested as a result of the investigation said.
Our clients answered questions but I don’t know that their information would be helpful to law enforcement. It seems to me that Richland County has a host of its own crime problems much more serious than a kid featured in a photograph with a bong in his hand.
Under South Carolina law, possession of one ounce or less of marijuana is a misdemeanor that carries a find up to $200 and 30 days in jail for the first offense. If I do the math correctly and they manage to charge Phelps also, that would bring Richland County about 9 X $200 or $1,800 in fines. I wonder if that would pay for all the manpower and resources that Richland County is bringing to bear to end this terrible crime wave?
I know, marijuana possession is a crime, although why it is I will never understand. So I guess Sheriff Leon Lott feels that it is his duty to bring these scofflaws to justice. But seriously, why bother? Maybe it is so that Sheriff Lott can have his 15 minutes of fame. Michael Phelps has already made a public apology in which he acknowledged his regrettable behavior and bad judgment. I think the Richland County Sheriffs Department should take the advice of the lawyer and find a better use for its resources, which I am sure are under considerable strain due to the current economic crisis.
Comments
By Dick Carlson on February 13th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
Sometimes I’m very proud of my newly-adopted home town, and sometimes I’m not.
With nearly 10% unemployment and schools near the bottom of the scores in the nation, I wouldn’t have thought we needed to spend scarce funds on this right now.
Fifteen minutes of fame? Fifteen minutes of jokes — Leno, Letterman, Colbert, and Stewart will have a ball. Those stupid rubes in the south have done it again.
We were really surprised when we moved here, at what a cosmopolitan and educated city this was. But I guess I understand where some of the ideas that people have come from — Sheriff Roscoe is alive and well, living in Columbia.
Dick Carlsons last blog post..ContentPreneuring: Building Your Business By Sharing What You Know
Like or Dislike:
0 
0