Pubdate: Mon, 21 Jun 2010
Source: Northern Pen (CN NF)
Copyright: 2010 Northern Pen
Contact:  http://www.northernpen.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5016
Author: Stephanie Hodge

'AT ODDS WITH ALL PRINCIPLES OF GOOD COMMUNITY POLICING'

Dear Editor,

The photos submitted to the news agencies by RCMP in St. Anthony were
completely misleading and at odds with all principles of good
community policing.

The police clearly targeted an innocent and good man, disrupted the
lives of his family and defamed his business. This is a clear case of
police projected over sensationalism caused to support their botched
and ridiculous tear/raid on an innocent local man. Lyndon Hodge is a
solitary northern Newfoundland man, known all his life by members of
his community. He has been living a near Spartan but hardworking life
in the community. He is running a decent business with the support of
his family in northern Newfoundland.

This morning after an already disturbing night and learning about the
way the police targeted and invaded my brother's property on suspicion
he had marijuana plants (he absolutely did not deny that he had plants
and also explained to them why), his house and property were virtually
torn apart by police and I learned he was forced to walk home from the
station 20 kilometres at 11 p.m. in the rainy cold night. He was lucky
to get home alive five hours later. This morning getting those photos
out to media was the first thing the police dealt with.

The pictures shown speak for themselves and as you all agree clearly
show a waste of our collective police resources spending on creating
problems and making non criminals appear as criminals. A local stash
of personal hemp seed growing to tiny plants, if they grow at all, to
potentially service my brother's chronic back pain. My brother for
many years has had severe chronic back pain. He is allowed to grow and
personally use under Canadian law for this purpose. In addition, my
grandfather's old musket and some ancient non-usable hunting guns. How
do we stop this abuse? Why with this misdemeanor were Newfoundland
police allowed to make public this garbage and misrepresentation of
the truth?

For God's sake give him a break.

Sincerely,

Stephanie Hodge

Long Island City 
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