Pubdate: Tue, 09 Oct 2001
Source: Ann Arbor News (MI)
Copyright: 2001 The Ann Arbor News
Contact:  http://aa.mlive.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/20
Author: Amalie Nash

STATE SENATE TO HONOR DEPUTY

Quick Thinking In Dexter Bust Led To 1st Drug-free School Zone Case

After Washtenaw County Sheriff's deputies made a drug bust in Dexter 
earlier this year, Deputy Mike Babycz noticed that the suspect's house was 
near the high school and two elementary schools.

He asked the Washtenaw County Road Commission to measure the distance from 
the front door to the schools; the house fell within 1,000 feet of school 
property and led to the first statewide case prosecuted under the 1999 
drug-free school zones law.

Babycz will be honored Wednesday by the Michigan Senate for his effort.

The suspected drug dealer, 31-year-old Govit Maxwell, was found guilty in 
late September of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, but the 
jury could not agree on a cocaine delivery charge. That portion of the case 
is expected to be retried. The drug-free school zone violation applies to 
the cocaine charge, but not marijuana.

The case came to light Feb. 8 when an anonymous caller told sheriff's 
deputies that a resident in the Walkabout Creek subdivision was selling 
drugs out of his home to Dexter High School students. Police entered the 
man's home the next month with a search warrant and found marijuana, crack 
cocaine, scales and packaging materials, Babycz said.

"I'm somewhat surprised this was occurring in Dexter, because you expect to 
see it in a somewhat more urban setting," said Babycz, a sheriff's deputy 
for two years. "I had no idea that this was the first case charged under 
the new law. I think it's a good tool because is sends a strong message to 
people who are considering selling drugs near a school."

The law, effective Nov. 24, 1999, doubles the penalty for the drug charge. 
Maxwell's home fell within 1,000 feet of Dexter High School and Cornerstone 
and Bates elementaries.

"I think the law is a very healthy deterrent for people dealing drugs from 
cars or in homes," Dexter Schools Superintendent Bill Spargur said. "I 
think the fact that the sheriff's department enforced the law there was 
wonderful."

Babycz now works in the Ypsilanti Township substation of the sheriff's 
department. He is a former paramedic with Huron Valley Ambulance and serves 
as a paramedic for the department's SWAT team.
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