Pubdate: Sat, 30 Apr 2005
Source: Lexington Herald-Leader (KY)
Copyright: 2005 Lexington Herald-Leader
Contact:  http://www.kentucky.com/mld/heraldleader/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/240
Author: Brandon Ortiz
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)

POLICE RAID STORES FOR CRACK KITS

Shops Accused Of Selling Drug Paraphernalia

In a citywide crackdown, police yesterday raided 24 convenience,
grocery and liquor stores they say were selling illegal kits used for
smoking crack cocaine.

By late afternoon, 24 suspects had been arrested on Class A
misdemeanor charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, Capt. John
Jacobs said. Twelve others were issued citations for the same charges
in a daylong raid that involved 50 officers at sites scattered
throughout Lexington.

More stores could be raided in the coming months as police try to wipe
out what they describe as a widespread problem.

"We're not saying that next week we won't do another 25," Jacobs said.
"Hopefully the message will get out that this is not acceptable."

Police say the stores were selling "crack kits" that consisted of a
glass vial used for smoking cocaine, scouring pads to clean the vial
and a butane lighter. Each item can be sold legally, but it's a crime
to possess them collectively, Jacobs said.

Police also cited some suspects on accusations of selling counterfeit
clothing and purses. Cases of digital scales were also seized, but it
was not clear from which sites.

The stores were attracting an unsavory crowd to buy the kits, Jacobs
said.

"I don't know if you would want these crack addicts walking through
your neighborhood to go to the store to buy their items," he said.
"It's a quality of life issue."

People who live near one site said the raids were long overdue.

Donald Jones grew up in a north Lexington neighborhood where police
arrested four suspects at Pak N Save, on East Third Street. He sat in
a barber's chair looking at the empty parking lot.

"If you are selling drug paraphernalia in the neighborhood, you need
to be checked out," Jones said.

Rodd Washington added, "They don't do nothing but bring the
neighborhood down."

Jones and Washington were not surprised by the charges facing the
stores, several of which were located northeast of downtown.
Washington said he's witnessed the kits being sold at a convenience
store.

The stores are magnets for drug users and shady characters, Jones
said: "This is the first day they ain't been there."

Pak N Save's owner could not be reached for comment.

Earlier this week, undercover officers started buying the alleged
paraphernalia from stores across the city. Jacobs said that they asked
clerks for a "paper bag," an apparent code word.

The items were kept hidden under counters and sold for $2 to $5,
Jacobs said.

"We have known it for a long time. We just didn't know how big the
problem was until we started the investigation," he said. "We did this
over just a few-hour period, and it amazed us how readily available
this was, how easy it was to obtain."

No drugs were confiscated, but Jacobs said clerks explained to the
undercover officers where they could obtain drugs.

All of the sites were independently owned, but several had well-known
brand names such as BP and Chevron. Six Marathon locations were raided.

A spokeswoman for Marathon Ashland LLC said last night the company
will investigate the allegations and "respond appropriately."

"We don't tolerate this kind of thing," Linda Casey said.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin