Pubdate: Wed, 21 May 2003
Source: Associated Press
Copyright: 2003 Associated Press

SHERIFF SAYS TEEN TRIED TO SELL HIM POT

NAY-TAH-WAUSH, Minn. - If you're going to sell marijuana, you probably
shouldn't try to sell it to the sheriff.

Mahnomen County Sheriff Brad Athman said Tuesday he was motorcycling
while off-duty over the weekend when a youth tried to sell him
marijuana - not once, but twice - on the main street of Nay-Tah-Waush
in northwestern Minnesota.

Athman said the youth tried to wave him over twice, and signaled that
he had marijuana for sale by placing his thumb and fingers to his
mouth in a smoking gesture.

Athman said he had a full-face helmet on, so he was unrecognizable.

The sheriff said he called a deputy who arrested the 17-year-old, and
that the teen had 11 marijuana cigarettes in his pocket.

Athman said the teen became "very upset" when he discovered he had
tried to sell drugs to the sheriff.

The youth appeared in court Tuesday on a felony charge of attempted
sale of a controlled substance. He remained in custody in the juvenile
detention center in Moorhead pending his next court appearance.
Prosecutors plan to seek to charge him as an adult.
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