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. - --- MAP posted-by: Jackl