Archive for Drugs

Fighting Hallucinogens

by Randall

mushroomsTwice in two nights this week, my officers had to fight people who were out of control on hallucinogenic substances.  These drugs are a serious cause for concern for law enforcement.

In the first instance, an officer rolled up on an unknown situation in the middle of a large intersection.  A Good Samaritan was trying to hold down an out-of-control girl who was screaming “Kill me!” over and over again at the top of her lungs.

The officer and citizen managed to keep the 90 lbs. girl on the ground.  Another officer arrived to replace the citizen.  Now with two officers trying to handcuff her, the girl began to fight and actually began pushing up off the pavement with them on her back.

The first officer unloaded a can of OC into the girl’s face.  It had no effect and she pretty much drank it like a Slurpee.  Whirling around, she kicked the female officer in the groin.  The crazed girl was finally subdued and taken for medical treatment.

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Categories Bombs/Explosives, Drugs, Officer Safety
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Morphix ChameleonHave you had to respond to a possible clandestine meth lab or a chemical suicide or maybe just a strange smell?  Morphix Technologies has developed a unique armband kit that detects toxic gases to protect first responders.

The Morphix Chameleon is a chemical detection unit that is worn on the forearm or attached by Velcro to the uniform of a first responder.  The purpose of the kit is to provide an officer, firefighter, or soldier with immediate visual identification of the presence of hazardous gases.

A passive detector, the Chameleon has ten windows, called cassettes, which change color when exposed to certain chemicals.  The Chameleon can be configured for Clan-Meth Lab, Chemical Suicide, or Haz-Mat detection by simply changing the cassettes.

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Exigent Circumstance TrainingOn May 16, 2011, the United States Supreme Court officially ruled on an exigent circumstances case brought forth in Kentucky v. King.  The Court held that, “The exigent circumstances rule applies when the police do not create the exigency by engaging or threatening to engage in conduct that violates the Fourth Amendment.”

The Lexington, KY Police Department set up a controlled buy of crack cocaine outside of an apartment complex.  As officers moved in to arrest the drug suspect, he moved quickly into a breezeway and disappeared into one of two apartments within.  The officers moved to the door on the left, from which they could smell marijuana smoke emanating, and began knocking and announcing, “Police!”

It is important to note that in the announce, the police did not “demand entry” or make any other Fourth Amendment references.  This would prove crucial in the U.S. Supreme Court’s examination of the facts.

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Categories Drugs, Legal Issues
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Subscribe via iTunes

This week’s police podcast focuses on criminal interdiction.  In the past, many officers and trainers have focused on drug interdiction in rural stretches of highway.  I suggest that criminal interdiction techniques can, and should, be applied in all areas of your jurisdiction.

Among other things, I talk about officer safety, vehicle occupants and vehicle contents.

As mentioned in a previous podcast, the web address for the company making the Cobra Strike Plate is:  ArmorShield USA.  I did not see the plate on the site yet, but I am working on getting more information, including a video of the plate in action.

The podcast runs a little longer, a little shy of an hour, but I hope you get some good information out of it.

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Categories Criminal Interdiction, Drugs, Podcasts
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coke_potatoFollowing a tip, Alabama deputies made contact with a suspicious man in the parking lot of a restaurant.  The man was in possession of a take-out lunch that he said he was getting ready to eat.  However, the foil-wrapped baked potato was actually five ounces of cocaine.

Make sure you search everywhere!

The full story is at the Athens (AL) News-Courier.

Stay safe!

Categories Criminal Interdiction, Drugs, News
Comments (0)