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DOTHAN DRUG ARRESTS RISE WITH THE SUMMER TEMPERATURES

Dothan police are making more drug-related arrests as the weather warms up and more traffic passes through the Circle City.

Dothan Police Chief John Powell said the city usually experiences a jump in the number of drug cases during the summer months, but overall, the numbers are actually slightly below last year's totals.

"During the summer the traffic flow increases and you have kids out of school and vacationers, and this type of activity increases because of the nicer weather," Powell said.

So far in 2005 the city has had 176 drug arrests from April through June, just two behind last year's totals at this time.  Powell said the numbers are up for marijuana arrests, but the seriousness of the amount of the drug involved are lower.  In that same three-month period officers made 78 arrests for second-degree possession of marijuana and only six for first-degree possession.

"You're probably seeing a little more recreational use," Powell said.

A lot of the arrests are the result of traffic stops, Powell said.  But the department is also very aggressive in its undercover drug efforts.

Lt.  Duane Herring, who heads the department's Vice Intelligence Division, said the number of drug arrests usually spike in the summer months.

"Activity on everything increases during the summer," Herring said.  "But we're always out there shaking the bushes."

He attributes the recent increases to a combination of patrol units making traffic stops and vice agents working drug cases.  Drug investigators take over the case from patrol units if the amount of drugs involve felony possession.

In addition to patrol, Herring said investigators receive information on drug activity almost daily and actively work those leads.

They also engage in undercover operations where vice officers buy from drug dealers.

"We also ride the streets and we know the known drug areas and where the dealers hang out," Herring said.  "We patrol those areas - street corners and night clubs - different areas around town."

Marijuana remains the most common drug.  Most of the arrests were for second-degree possession of marijuana, which is a misdemeanor, he said.

"Those are always the highest," Herring said.  "Marijuana is a cheap drug and it is prevalent."

Herring said marijuana users tend to fall into a broad spectrum of users.

"It's not limited to blacks or whites, young or old," Herring said.  "You have hippies from the '60s still floating around and you have young teenagers."

Cocaine ranks as the second-most common drug in Dothan.  Police made 70 cocaine-related arrests from April to June in 2005.

Powell said although he considers one drug case to be one too many, he doesn't believe the numbers are increasing in Dothan.  "I don't think there is a lot more," Powell said.  "It's accentuated more on a traffic stop.  But our numbers indicate we're about even with last year, which is good for us.  I definitely think our officer's efforts are paying dividends."