Pubdate: Wed, 11 Jul 2012
Source: Diamondback, The (U of MD Edu)
Copyright: 2012 Diamondback
Contact:  http://www.diamondbackonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/758
Author: Fola Akinnibi

POLICE HOPE FED. LAW WILL LIMIT STUDENT DRUG USE

Ban on Synthetic Substances Comes Shortly After Man Allegedly High on 
PCP Engaged Police in Gunfight

After struggling to contain a College Park man who was allegedly high 
on PCP and fired at officers before crashing a stolen police cruiser 
on Route 1 last week, Prince George's County and University Police 
are hoping a federal ban on the use of sought-after synthetic 
hallucinogens will prevent a similar incident in the future.

After several bizarre and violent incidents around the country 
resulting from synthetic drug users, President Obama signed a measure 
into law Monday that bans 31 substances commonly used for synthetic 
drugs. The law attempts to stay ahead of manufacturers by also 
banning analogs of the substances, meaning substances that are used 
to produce a similar effect are also illegal. Police are optimistic 
the measure will further prevent rare incidents such as last week's 
officer-involved shooting.

"Anything government can do to keep them out of reach of young people 
is important," said University Police spokesman Capt. Marc Limansky.

Police, however, said they rarely find students using synthetic drugs.

"Luckily, it isn't the drug of choice for college students," he said. 
"We really don't see it in any regularity around here."

"It's something we've seen before, but not on a daily basis," said 
Prince George's Police spokesman Cpl. Clinton Copeland.

Last Thursday at 10:21 p.m., county police received a 911 call from 
Andre McKoy's mother, who said her son was on PCP and had a gun; 
there were two children in the Lakeland Road home. When officers 
arrived, McKoy allegedly walked his mother outside at gunpoint and 
shot at officers. He was unaffected by a tasing and multiple gunshots 
and managed to steal a police car before crashing yards away into the 
3-foot high brick wall in front of McDonald's.

Students said they were worried not only because of McKoy's behavior, 
but also because the university sent its first alert at 11:24 p.m., 
nearly an hour after McKoy allegedly shot at a police officer.

Mechanical engineering graduate student Graeme Fukuda said he watched 
from his apartment in The Varsity but thought the information police 
provided was too vague given the event's proximity to the campus.

"[The alert] didn't really say anything -- it was after things had 
settled down," he said. "It happened right in front of campus, and it 
was so close to the main drag of things."

The situation lasted just five minutes and Limansky said police do 
not generally send students alerts in situations where they feel 
there is no imminent danger to the university community. Limansky 
said he also accidentally sent emergency crime alerts, usually 
reserved for situations where there is a risk for the loss of life or 
serious bodily injury and where a suspect is at large in the community.

McKoy was in custody within a few minutes, Limansky said.

"The difference would be if he got away," he added.

Calls for comment to McKoy's home were not returned. The 21 year old 
has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Aug. 3 in Upper Marlboro on 
charges of attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault and 
use of a firearm in a violent crime, among other charges, according 
to court records.
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