Police Crash Toddler's Birthday Party In Marijuana Raid

[matcom]

<snip>

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Police on a drug raid burst into a home during a toddler's birthday party, startling children who were getting ready to eat their cake when the gun-toting officers crashed the party.

Amid wails from children and a few parents -- and a phone ringing incessantly with prospective drug buyers -- officers arrested a pregnant woman and accused her of selling marijuana from the house.

Shannon Hills Police Chief Richard Friend, who led the raid, found parents about to light candles on a cake adorned with green and white cartoon characters and a big "2" on top.

"The kids were up in high-chairs eating pizza and the cake was just about to be lit and cut when we kicked the party off a little early," Friend said Tuesday. "We got them something they wish they could return."

Police did not know a birthday party was going on when they decided to make the bust.

"The first thing I saw was the birthday table and cake, so I yelled for everyone to put away their guns," Shannon Hills Police Chief Richard Friend said. "You could see they had a nightmare-come-true. Everyone just froze and looked at me. The parents started crying and then the kids started crying."

Elizabeth Leah Sauls, 21, was hosting her niece's second birthday party at the time of Friday evening's raid. She was allegedly smoking marijuana in the master bedroom and continuing to sell pot out of the house as the police moved in. Friend said she received 35 calls requesting the drug in the short time that police were there.

http://www.boston.com/news/odd/articles/2005/02/08/ark_drug_bust_crashes_kids_birthday/

[underpants]

1. Why do they hate capitalism so?

It's just a mother trying to provide a better future, the American dream if you will, to her chillins. That's all.

[kick-ass-bob]

2. She owned her own business,

isn't that what they tell everyone to do?

[RedCappedBandit]

3. Guys..

marijuana is EVIL.. :grr:

[underpants]

5. Then why did God put it on this earth?

Just wondering

[RedCappedBandit]

10. Sarcasm

Was just kidding :toast:

[kick-ass-bob]

7. So is alcohol.

Where's the rage about that? :P



ps - can't tell if you're serious or not, but since the first 3 posters are notorious jokers, I'm going with joking.
:shrug:

[HCeline69]

4. Thank God for the government!

You see, we need police busting into our homes, waving guns around. We need judges sending us to prison to bunk with murderers and rapists.
Because, marijuana might be DANGEROUS. They're only looking after our best interests.
Like a shepherd looks after the sheep.

[Done]

6. I just know that Sponge Bob was somehow involved.

[kick-ass-bob]

8. GAY MARIJUANA!

:o

[Dez]

9. kids traumatized for life

by this one. Why do cops have to go to such lengths just to bust someone selling herb? And the jails are filled with herb users, it's outageous what this country does to persecute herb users.

[Ian David]

12. Most people who smoke are too stupid to be trusted with fire.

When people stop throwing their cigarette butts out their car windows and leaving them where they don't belong, maybe THEN I'll be in favor of legalizing pot.

First, you have to show that you've learned to be responsible with your regular cigarettes by not littering with them, not smoking in places where it is not permitted, not smoking in a car with a child in it, and not causing 40% of fatal house fires.

You can do what you want with your own bodies, but you have already demonstrated an inability or un-willingness to avoid pissing-off the rest of us.

The last thing we need is the already obnoxious smokers running around being silly and sleepy.

[Dez]

13. what does smoking tobacco

have to do with smoking herb?? And do you think someone should be jailed for throwing their cigarette out their car window also?? Someone who's smoking a dooobie saves their roaches, and don't throw them out the window. To lock someone up for smoking a doobie is cruel and unusual punishment, and Americans have gotten used to this, and the laws and penatties against drug crimes are draconian, compared to REAL crimes, such as rape and murder. People are getting stiffer penalties for drug crimes, than for violent crimes and this is very wrong.

[Ian David]

14. I agree it shouldn't be criminal to smoke a doobie

But just because most people who smoke are all too often obnoxious scofflaws to begin with, I don't think mankind has proven themselves responsible enough to legally smoke pot.

I am talking about MOST smokers, not all. It wouldn't be fair to paint ALL of them with the same broad brush.

I would love to see people who litter with cigarette butts actually FINED for it.

The damn things are made of cellulose acetate, take 15 years to de-compose, and contain chemicals you can't legally dispose of in a regular landfill.

And I would like to see people caught with pot FINED rather than arrested.

I say you've had the chance with cigarettes and proven you aren't capable of being considerate, responsible users of fire.

And no, I admit pot smokers don't waste their roaches by tossing them on the sidewalk. However, if it is legalized and becomes cheap enough, they might.

And if they start making doobies with filters on them, we'll have THOSE filters sitting on the sidewalks and beaches for the 15 years it takes the cellulose acetate to decompose.

My objection has nothing to do with your right to put whatever you want in your body.

The majority of alcohol users don't drive drunk. But the majority of smokers think NOTHING of tossing lit cigarette butts on sidewalks, beaches, parks, and out their car windows into dry, wooded areas.

You can't even keep some of them from smoking in places where it is prohibited or illegal.

My objection has to do with the proven track record most smokers have of refusing to respect MY body and MY environment.

Practice being good citizens with your cigarettes first, and THEN we'll talk.

So, No.

No pot for you.

[skygazer]

15. No, once again you're lumping pot smokers and cigarette smokers

together. Many, many people who smoke pot don't smoke cigs and never have. Many people who smoke pot are staunch environmentalists who choose pot because it's natural (as opposed to alcohol, for example).

Your logic is flawed - just because both things are smoked doesn't make those who use them the same.

[IntravenousDemilo]

16. Oh, now...

I don't think I'd be likely to throw a roach out the car window or leave it somewhere where it doesn't belong. Stuff's too expensive.

At times I wish there were more public ashtrays. Then I wouldn't feel compelled to flick my butts into the street while I'm walking (I never drop them on the sidewalks, and I do try to aim for storm grates).

[RedCappedBandit]

11. LOL

[redqueen]

17. Boy that drug war's really doing wonders, innit?

:grr:

[Paranoid_Portlander]

18. It was the sight of the birthday cake...

... that forced the cops to yell at the children (and the adults) to put away their guns, according to the article. Did they think there was a gun inside the cake?? I feel so much safer now.