Tracknum: 23530.a9.a8c6c98.26e1081d
Pubdate: Fri,  1 Sep 2000
Source: Blade, The (OH)
Copyright: 2000 The Blade
Contact:  541 North Superior St., Toledo OH 43660
Website: http://www.toledoblade.com/

6 OTTAWA HILLS TEENS FACE DRUG-ABUSE CHARGES

Six Ottawa Hills juveniles have been charged with delinquency in connection with drug-related offenses after police videotaped them smoking marijuana on a residential street in the village.

All of the accused are boys, ages 14 to 16. Five are accused in Lucas County Juvenile Court of drug abuse, possessing drug paraphernalia, and disorderly conduct. The sixth was not charged with disorderly conduct. All the charges are misdemeanors.

Village police Chief Ron Jornd said he authorized the videotaping after receiving complaints about rowdy juveniles smoking dope in the 3400 block of Pelham Road.

An officer with a video camera was in a house and videotaped the teenagers, who were part of a larger group of adolescents, from 3 to 8 p.m. Aug. 24, according to a police report.

The youths were videotaped packing a glass pipe with marijuana, lighting it, and passing it around, the report states. The officer wrote that he could smell burning marijuana.

After five hours of taping, the teens saw the officer. Some yelled obscenities at him and made obscene gestures, according to the report. Two dropped their pants and "mooned" for the camera, while a girl, who was not charged, raised her blouse and flashed her brassiere, according to the report.

One youth threw a stone at the window in which the officer was perched but missed. The officer heard the youths discuss the possibility of breaking into the house and taking the video camera, the report states.

Instead, with the help of University of Toledo police, who were summoned in case the group scattered, the teens were taken to the Ottawa Hills police station, where they were questioned and turned over to their parents. The pipe was confiscated, along with a small amount of marijuana and a switchblade knife, according to authorities.

"All of the parents have cooperated and are genuinely concerned," Chief Jornd said. "This behavior is found in a lot of communities. It's not just germane to Ottawa Hills."

Juvenile Court Judge James Ray said that in nonviolent cases such as this the court emphasizes treatment rather than detention. "Our primary concern is the drug usage itself. There has to be some treatment," Judge Ray said.

Chief Juvenile Prosecutor Denise Cubbon said she expects the teens to be arraigned in about a month.