Did the Police really spend our tax dollars to do a RAID FOR 3 FUCKING GRAMS OF Marijuana?
By Lamaur Stancil (Contact)
Vero Beach Press
Originally published 12:14 p.m., September 11, 2008
Updated 05:35 p.m., September 11, 2008VERO BEACH — Comedian Ron White told police the marijuana he was carrying with him when he stepped off his jet Wednesday was for medicinal purposes, according to the arrest affidavit released Thursday.
The Vero Beach Police Department arrested the “Blue Collar Comedy Tour” star on charges of possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. White, whose home address was listed on the affidavit as Beverly Hills, Calif., told officers the marijuana was for medicinal purposes, but he could not provide a prescription.
An anonymous tipster told Vero Beach Police detectives an airplane would be landing at 5 p.m. at the city’s airport with a passenger carrying illegal drugs, said Officer John Morrison, spokesman for the Vero Beach Police Department.
White, on the Treasure Coast to perform at the Sunrise Theatre in Fort Pierce, was booked at the Indian River County Jail at 6:07 p.m. Wednesday and released at 8:06 p.m. after posting $1,000 bail, said Deputy Jeff Luther, Indian River County Sheriff’s Office spokesman.
Only White and the pilot were on the plane, and the 51-year-old comedian was cooperative with detectives, who during the search found less than 3 grams of marijuana and a pipe to smoke the drug, Morrison said.
"The officers told him why they were there, and he chose to produce what he had," Vero Beach Police Chief Donald Dappen said. "With that, he put my officers in the position where they needed to act. It's a violation of the law and everyone knows that."
Dappen said his officers responded correctly to the tip, which indicated White would have a nominal amount of the drug on him.
"It was a small amount by the time he was arrested, but how much did he start with?" Dappen said. "That's not the amount he originally arranged to get."
White began his sold-out performance at the 1,200-seat Sunrise Theatre more than an hour late Wednesday and is scheduled to do a second sold-out show there Thursday.
This was the second incident involving White and his plane in the past four months.
Atlanta's WSBTV Channel 2 Action News report the Federal Aviation Administration is conducting an investigation into a May incident in which pilots allege White may have risked the safety of crew and passengers on board his private jet.
The pilots said White fired them after the alleged incident, according to WSBTV.
On June 25, the pilots told the news station they were flying White on May 11 from Ithaca, N.Y., to Gwinnett County Airport at Briscoe Field in Lawrenceville, Ga., but were diverted to DeKalb-Peachtree Airport in Chamblee, Ga. White became drunk and enraged and tried to enter the cockpit, the pilots told WSBTV.
Terry Lloyd, a lawyer for the comedian, told the TV station, “I have absolutely no confidence in any allegations they make against Ron White. They were terminated by him. They’re nothing more than disgruntled former pilots.”
White is best known for his days on the “Blue Collar Comedy Tour” with fellow comedians and friends Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall and Larry the Cable Guy.
Holding a glass of scotch in one hand and a cigarette or cigar in the other, White often includes jokes in his acts about being arrested and charged with public intoxication after being thrown out of a New York bar and booked in Texas with the alias “Tater Salad.”
Drew Edwards, president of Ron White Inc., said Thursday he was aware of the charges against White, but had no comment.
White made his rendezvous with Vero's finest a large part of the opening of his performance Wednesday night, said Roberta Davis, 64, of White City, who attended the show. But Davis said she was unaware at the time the story he was telling was true.
"I went to the restroom after the show, and this woman in front of me must have gotten a text message about his arrest," Davis said. "She said 'He really did get arrested!' We just thought it was a part of his show."
White appeared upset about the incident at the airport, in which the police used K-9 dogs, Davis said.
"He said the police took the dog's opinion over his," she said.
Just another example of why our drug laws need some reform.
"It was a small amount by the time he was arrested, but how much did he start with?" Dappen said. "That's not the amount he originally arranged to get."
This is the same flawed logic you see when they seize drug grows and brag about the amout and value. what they don't tell you is they grossly inflate the numbers and Value to make it seem worthwhile instead of a waste of TAXPAYERS DOLLARS like it really is.
I guess the Words "Land of the Free" Doesn't really apply anymore
Change?
Reform?
Maybe we might get some help When the New President is Elected.
