Pubdate: Fri, 11 Jan 2002
Source: Athens Banner-Herald (GA)
Copyright: 2002 Athens Newspapers Inc
Contact:  http://www.onlineathens.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1535
Author: Joan Stroer

A-C POLICE SEIZE HOME IN DRUG RAID

Police have long had the right under state and federal law to seize 
property if they can show it's linked to the illegal drug trade. 
Athens-Clarke police have rarely moved to commandeer a house. Thursday, 
they seized a west Athens house owned by an 82-year-old widow neighbors 
call ''Ma,'' claiming she was knowingly letting her son use the property as 
a staging site for drug sales. Police predicted more home forfeitures, as 
they look for fresh ways to end open drug dealing that still troubles some 
Athens neighborhoods. ''This community is why we're here today -- it's part 
of our problem-solving approach to policing the community,'' said Mike 
Hunsinger of the Athens-Clarke Police Drug and Vice Squad. ''I think we're 
going to see more of it.'' Fannie Gresham's attorney, Jim Smith, likened 
the police action to the widespread illegal theft of African-American real 
estate that tarnishes America's past. ''What they're doing is taking 
property from black folks,'' he said. ''They don't attack white folks.'' 
Under the watchful eyes of neighbors, officers entered the tiny Julius 
Drive home of Gresham and changed the locks. Police on Thursday also 
arrested Gresham's son, Tommie ''Top Dollar'' Gresham, 50, on a cocaine 
possession charge after he allegedly dropped several rocks of crack cocaine 
and fled the scene, returning later while police were still there. His 
mother was at the hospital visiting a sick relative during the police 
operation, according to her attorney, who accused police of confiscating 
the home of an innocent old woman. Neighbors described her as a kindly lady 
who walked to a nearby church every Sunday for services. ''Right here is a 
good example of the state taking property'' without evidence, Smith said, 
videotaping the operation from the street. ''There's not any drugs in this 
house. They have never seized any drugs in this house. This lady is not 
accused of a single thing.'' The police complaint alleged the senior 
Gresham facilitated her son's alleged operation by allowing the house to 
become a hub of drug activity. Some 29 incidents of drug activity have been 
noted at the address there since 1992, records show. Police were armed with 
a court order issued by Superior Court Judge Stephen Boswell, who heard 
evidence in December of alleged drug activity at the property. Police say 
drug dealers were caught numerous times by police fetching drugs from the 
house for street-side sales, and running after cars to sell drugs to 
motorists. Boswell gave Gresham 14 days to move her belongings. A hearing 
on the seizure is scheduled for February in Clarke Superior Court. Boswell 
signed the order as a visiting judge after the Western Judicial Circuit's 
three Superior Court judges recused themselves in the case. Seized by the 
state government was a Jim Walter home that Gresham and her husband erected 
in the 1950s, paying for it partly with money from a job she held at a 
local poultry plant. Her husband Tom died in June. The sudden lockdown at 
the address surprised at least one visitor, dropping off a package for 
Gresham, who she described as a lovely person and a good customer. The 
visitor found only an empty locked house. ''All I know is what I bring 
them,'' Mary Brake said.''It's prescription drugs.''
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