Pubdate: 28 Jan. 1999 Source: Chicago Tribune (IL) Section: Metro DuPage Contact: http://www.chicagotribune.com/ Forum: http://www.chicagotribune.com/interact/boards/ Copyright: 1999 Chicago Tribune Company Author: Art Barnum STORE TOLD TO STOP DRUG-GEAR SALES A DuPage County Circuit Court judge issued a permanent order Wednesday against a Westmont store, seeking to prevent it from selling drug paraphernalia. Meanwhile, the shop owner contended that much of the merchandise confiscated in a raid last year is not drug-related, and he wants it returned. Chief Judge Michael Galasso issued a permanent injunction against Sight and Sound, 663 N. Cass Ave., to keep it from selling drug paraphernalia, such as water pipes and other items marketed for use with marijuana and other illegal substances. Last month, Galasso issued a temporary injunction against the store and its owner, Joseph Sallammi, after a police raid on the store in which several truckloads of goods were seized. On Wednesday, Sallammi asked Galasso to order authorities to return most of that merchandise, claiming that it was not drug-related and that it was his legally to sell. When asking for the temporary and permanent injunctions, Joseph Ruggiero, chief of narcotic prosecutions for the DuPage state's attorney's office, gave Galasso an evidence list of about 20 confiscated items that he considered representative of what was taken from the store by police. Sallammi and his attorney, Dominick Dolci, asked for everything not on that list to be returned. Ruggiero objected, saying the two truckloads of goods were almost all drug-related. Sallammi, armed with sales brochures about various pipes and tobacco-related products, said much of the merchandise was legal to sell. But Ruggiero said, "There may be a few legitimate pipes in there, but most of it includes one-hitters and bongs." Galasso contended that if Sallammi wants the items back, a judge will have to listen to arguments from both sides and determine whether something is drug-related. Ruggiero said he may offer to take Dolci to where the confiscated merchandise is stored so he can review the goods and decide what he wants to ask a judge to allow the store to sell. Sallammi also had to pay a $5,000 bond to the county to allow him to continue to run his retail business. Under the temporary injunction, he was allowed to remain open, but the permanent injunction required he produce the bond. Ruggiero said police have been keeping an eye on the store for possible violations and will continue to do so. Last fall, DuPage prosecutors and police, frustrated by what they perceived as a lack of results in fighting head shops in criminal court, raided Sight and Sound and All American Sports Cards & Comics, also known as Alternative Universe, 4941 Main St., Downers Grove, and filed civil suits against them. The suit against the Downers Grove shop is pending. - --- MAP posted-by: Rich O'Grady