LPD Provides Community Drug Update

Sample of Black Tar Heroin. It’s the Black Dot at the Bottom of the Slip of Plastic Wrap

If you take and slice 1/16^th of an inch off a rubber eraser from a pencil, it would be the approximate size of the 0.2 grams of black tar heroin held by Lamar Police Chief, Kyle Miller in this photo.  “The street value of a tenth of a gram of heroin is $10, so we’re looking at $20 worth,” said Chief Miller during a Lamar City Council work session, held November 7^th.  The city scheduled the meeting to acquaint council members and the public at large about illegal drug use and sales in the Lamar community and the efforts put forth to curtail the on-going trafficking in drugs.  There have been some recent notable drug arrests in the community as well as cases of drug overdoses.  The department called the meeting to help provide answers for the public as well as the council.

Another Drug Sample

Chief Miller displayed a heroin work kit which was half the size of a school lunch pail or a small sewing kit, as well as a ‘shard’ or sample of crystal meth which runs in the neighborhood of $100 for 1.4 grams. The chief also displayed a small baggie containing marijuana and said legally, Colorado residents can carry one ounce of the drug, now available commercially, since the passage of Amendment 64 several years ago.

Chief Miller Displays Heroin Kit for Mayor Stagner

Regarding the small amount of heroin which was wrapped by a sliver of clear plastic, the Chief said, “If a seller sees us approaching them from a distance, they just drop the sliver of plastic onto the grass. It becomes very difficult for us to find at that point.”  He went further adding, “Supposed that happened in a car or a room in a house.  It becomes very difficult for us to find an item that small when it can be hidden almost anywhere.”

Chief Miller replied to several questions the police department encounters, such as, “If you just arrested them, why are they back on the streets?” He explained that a person can call a bondsman once a judge has set their bail, “That’s the right of any person not to be held indefinitely, so once we make an arrest, they may be back out again in several days until they go to court.”  He said suspicion of drug dealing alone does not warrant an arrest, “We need to have probable cause to move forward with an investigation and we need evidence to make a case for arrest.”  Miller said the department’s tip line is one way to keep the police apprised of neighborhood incidents, “It’s just a recording, you don’t talk to anyone and you’re not required to identify yourself, but if you think you see something happening, let us know.”  Chief Miller cautioned that day to day police work is not a tv series scenario.  “When you call us, we don’t immediately respond with several cruisers and lights and sirens, but we are there and we’re observing what’s going on.”

Miller explained that over the past twelve years, the penalties associated some illegal drug trafficking have been reduced at the legislative level, such as classification of felonies and lengths of incarceration. He added that the best way to help curtail drug activities is for every citizen to be aware of what transpires in their neighborhood and report any actions that may relate to drug sales.  The anonymous Tip Line is 719-336-1435.

By Russ Baldwin