Police making arrests in Phelps pot scandal

[sabra]

Source: NBC Sports/AP

South Carolina county investigators trying to build case against swimmer


COLUMBIA, S.C. - Police in the South Carolina county where Michael Phelps was photographed smoking from a marijuana pipe have been arresting people as they seek to make a case against the superstar swimmer, lawyers for two arrested people said Thursday.

Attorneys Joseph McCulloch and Dick Harpootlian told The Associated Press they each represent a client charged with possession of marijuana who were questioned about the party Phelps attended near the University of South Carolina campus in November.

The lawyers said the two clients were renters at the house where the party apparently took place, although they were not at the party. The two have since moved and were arrested after police executed a search warrant at their new home and accused them of having a small amount of marijuana there.

“After they arrested him, they didn’t ask him, ’Where did you get the marijuana?’ or ’Who sold it to you?’ Almost all the questions they asked him were about Michael Phelps,” Harpootlian said.

Read more: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/29125081/

[Ian David]

1. At last, our long, national nightmare is over. Thank you, South Carolina.

Now I can sleep with my windows open at night, knowing that Michael Phelps and his friends won't break into my home and blow pot smoke at me.

[tridim]

4. Apparently home of the dumbest prosecutors/cops on Earth.

Although it's probably good for the cause (legalization) that these idiots are overreacting.

[skooooo]

2. Thank God!!!

This whole thing has been a terrific nightmare for the country.

[CrispyQ]

3. What a waste of time & resources.

We look like imbeciles to the rest of the developed world.

[bdamomma]

19. yep, and bushco is still walking around freely.

only in America.

[endarkenment]

5. Legalize it. nt.

[babylonsister]

6. I can't believe how ridiculous this is. They have nothing better to do? nt

[Runcible Spoon]

7. oh for fuck's sake!

If I lived there I would be screaming about misuse of police resources. Actually, scratch that. I hope this escalates into a fiasco so that the laws are changed.

[stillcool]

8. unbelievable....

[rudy23]

9. Big Pharma is shitting themselves that Phelps is single handedly destroying anti-MJ propaganda

He represents the pinnacle of human achievement (according to people who hype the Olympics). He is not sitting in his parents' basement playing video games, ruining his life. He's not a criminal.

He's as American as apple pie, and that one picture has the corporate, anti-pot faction shitting themselves. They can't let the national debate go the way it started to go---"If Phelps is doing it, maybe it shouldn't be illegal?"

[skooooo]

11. Hope you're right.

[daleo]

31. You have a good point

He's the un-poster boy for the Reefer Madness crowd.

[lib2DaBone]

10. You GOT to be kidding.... Fundys gone crazy....

... how in the hell could you make a marijuana arrest from a picture? How would you prove that it WAS MJ in the pipe, and not regular tobacco?

Don't the cops have anything better to do... (maybe lurk in some chat rooms and try to meet some 13-year-old girls?)

Only from the Republican State of Lindsey Graham... <background music from the movie "Deliverance">

[Loge23]

12. The police should be arrested!

For stupidity and wasting diminishing public resources.
This is totally absurd - but the arrested individuals will now have to pay thousands of dollars to defend themselves.
There should be thousands of people protesting outside the police station.
The prosecutor should be fired immediately.

[raystorm7]

13. Have they arrested Phelps yet and send him to jail? I'm just asking =/ cause this all makes no sense

[shadowknows69]

14. This is the biggest bullshit arrest in the history of bullshit arrests

[rudy23]

15. They're also probably trying to make sure Phelps doesn't get courageous enough to own up to it

How would it be if he came out and said, "you know what? I'm not that sorry about it--I used marijuana while I was training to win 12 gold medals."

[GregD]

16. this is fucking insane - we have to change these laws NOW

[Sandrine for you]

17. I'm starting the Phleps Liberation Front : PLIF !!

[Frank Cannon]

43. And I'll start the Save Phelps Liberation Front: SPLIF n/t

[ZeitGuy]

18. Here's the local sheriff who launched the "investigation"...

http://www.rcsd.net/bio.html





Don't know about you, but he looks like an aspiring politician grooming himself for a run at a congressional seat.

Here's how to let him know your opinion of his grandstanding grab for 15 minutes:

Sheriff Leon Lott
5623 Two Notch Road
Columbia, South Carolina 29223
[phone] phone [phone] fax
[e-mail]
[e-mail]

[tridim]

28. This "award" says it all..

2004 "Strom Thurmond Award of Excellence in Law Enforcement"

[lurky]

20. There are 57 unsolved murders listed on the Richland County

Sheriff's Department website. I counted. And these are just "cold" cases, so I'm sure there are many "hot" cases that have not yet been broken. Do I have to point out the irony that they are pouring their scarce resources into nabbing a kid photographed with a bong? I didn't think so.

link:
http://www.rcsd.net/wanted/unsolved.htm

(edit: typed "Richmond" by mistake")

[ZeitGuy]

23. Thanks. That was going to be the next thing I posted.

Then there are the missing persons reports, the state's most wanted list, etc., etc., ad nauseum.

[lurky]

32. But apparently they still have plenty of free manpower...

:shrug:

[xloadiex]

21. How much jail time did Rush do

for his illegal drug use? Oh, that's right, none.

[Lost in CT]

22. I'm against going after Phelps fellow partiers.

But if the police ignored a rich white athlete smoking pot while they continue to arrest poor black young people (Not in college) for the same offense wouldn't there still be outrage.

Just in a different direction.

Seems a little like a damned if they do and damned if they don't case.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

25. I get your point but since when do police departments go after ANYONE based on a 6 month....

.....old photograph in cases resembling this one?

Seriously. What's the potential charge here? I assume it would be a misdemeanor requiring a bench warrant or notice to appear for anyone caught with that small amount. A charge like that usually rises to the level of a j-walking or riding a bike on a sidewalk. Since when do cops put out a multiple arrest drag-net to gather coerced testimony for ANYONE involved in such petty offenses?

[rudy23]

30. Since a 12 time gold medal winner threatened to lend his endorsement cred to pot

Big pharma can't afford to let people start associating marijuana with Michael Phelps without also hammering home the SERIOUS consequences of using such a DANGEROUS drug.

The ol' circular argument. Pot is dangerous b/c it's illegal.

[Regret My New Name]

40. Do you think if Phelps wasn't Phelps, this would even be an issue?

[Lost in CT]

42. Not at all. I would be shocked if police went on myspace

and started arresting people for underage drinking pot use and underage sex.\


I was just saying that there are some that would be accusing the police of a double standard (which exists) if they didn't arrest white college kids.

[daggahead]

24. So ... now we'll all be safe from Olympic swimmers that smoke pot.

And the people that throw small parties.

Thank Goodness!!

:sarcasm:

[Bluenorthwest]

26. I thought I had seen it all

in terms of idiotic cops but this really takes the prize. This sheriff is not just a fascist, he's worse. He's a starf**ker. He's gold digging under color of authority.

[acmavm]

27. Oh lovely. The whole world's falling apart and all the brain-deads

and inbreds can find to worry about is a guy who was caught using 'paraphenalia'. I will not say he was smoking pot, I wasn't there. I have my opinion though and it says these jealous petty fucks are out to get this guy and they'll break the laws themselves if they have to to force this issue.

[gabby garcia]

29. here's our lovely sherrif with his new toy:

http://www.reason.com/blog/show/128482

[crankmob]

39. armed douchbags.. how pathetic

[midnight]

45. These folks look like they want a war.

Send these guys to Iraq and let some folks come home for some peace.

[ZeitGuy]

46. Jesus.

I have no other words to describe it.

[aquart]

33. The ass who took the picture must be real popular now.

[petronius]

34. I wonder how they got a search warrant for these renters' new apartment

This sheriff and DA may find that they've bitten off a lot more than they can chew - when it's all over they can go cry in their beers with Nifong...

[sasquatch]

36. "when it's all over they can go cry in their beers with Nifong..."

:applause:

[christx30]

37. I have one word for this case...

ELECTION

The Sheriff and the DA undoubtedly run for their offices. We simply have to make a case to the voters about the fascist and absurd nature of the arrests, as well as the wasted resources that going after Phelps and his friends. The two of them will be tossed out on their redneck fannies and we can actually get someone competent in the job.

On the other hand, since they are free to go after Phelps, they must have totally eradicated crime in that county, and I think they deserve to stay in office. Way to go, guys! (forgive me... I don't know how to do that awesome sarcasm tag. I'm new.)

[VaYallaDawg]

41. Ding, ding, ding, you win the prize today!

Yep, it's just about the cheapest, most effective re-election fodder ole Smokey B'ar can set "far" to down there in SC. Think about it:

(1) pot (devil's weed, definitely not what Jesus would smoke)
(2) instant name recognition of alleged perp
(3) he's from "way up Nawth" in Baltimore - i.e. not "from here," a "come here"

To use the "sarcasm" smilie, look in the part of your message bar that says "Message Options" - there's a link to the Smilies Lookup Table

And welcome to DU!!!

[NashVegas]

35. Police Intimidation

I think this is going to backfire on them.

[musicblind]

38. I do NOT smoke pot and these arrest piss me off so much.

This stuff should be legal. Stop waisting tax dollars during a repression. Someone should arrest these police.

[Frank Cannon]

44. Neither do I. Nor am I in the "pot is harmless" camp.

But this is absurd.