DTF / Monticello P.D. make Felony Drug Arrest
Published by Joe Burgess April 4th, 2008 in Police /Legal.According to Lt. Jason Akers, Supervisory Agent with the 10th Drug Task Force, a local man is facing multiple drug charges after Task Force Agents and Monticello Police executed a search warrant at his residence.
According to Akers, arrested was Gary Freeman, age 46, after officers executed the search warrant at Freeman’s residence and found Freeman attempting to flush between one quarter and one half pound of marijuana down the commode in the residence.
Akers stated that a firearm was also located inside the residence and that Freeman was found in possession of over $800.00 in cash.
Freeman was charged with possession of marijuana with the intent to deliver, felon in possession of a firearm and simultaneous possession of drugs and a firearm. He also faces an additional charge of delivery of crack cocaine, stemming from a separate investigation.
Three other people were at the residence at the time of the search warrant being executed, including an infant, but were released without charges.
Freeman is currently incarcerated at the Drew County Detention Facilty awaiting a first appearance/ bond hearing.
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I wonder if a child endangerment charge is also possible in this case?
I doubt it. No one thinks about the children in these cases. In another case, a man was charged with maintaining a drug premises for manufacturing meth with 4 minor children present and his child endargement charges were dropped. Now everyone feels sorry for him for the time he did get sentenced, my question is where is their concern for his children who are now without a father? His wife was not even charged with child endangerment and her children were in their custody full time. She got 5 years probation.)
Yes, the children are thought of in every case that the Task Force works. Sometimes, people are charged with multiple offenses and the offenses are often merged by the prosecutors as a part of a plea agreement.
It also has a bearing on whether or not the children are present at the time the activity occurred or is occurring. Its not something I agree with personally, but thats the way the court system goes.
Also, arresting someone for an offense and proving the intent was there to endanger a child is something different. Lots of times, it rests in the hands of jurors and that doesnt always turn out the way law enforcement wants.
That is sad. Really sad. Do people not realize how damaged children can be after experiencing something like this?
We don’t know if the baby was over there visiting(along with parent) or what.
Although we give everyone the presumption of innocence in our justice system and not referring to this case in any way, but to address the issue of the children being present at the execution of search/ arrest warrants, yes, it is tragic Brandy.
Its tragic for the child first and foremost but also for the family if they are at the house just by stroke of bad luck but its also sad for agents of the task force.
We have kids too and hate to see anyones kids put in the middle of their parents / neighbors,(etc.) problems. Unfortunatly, it happens way too often.
We DO know that children were present at the time the warrant was executed.
I was raised in an atmosphere in which drugs of many kinds were often present, but thankfully, I do not believe that I was at the premise of an actual meth lab, and I am grateful for that.
Jason, thank you for your informed insight. I am a criminal justice major, and have seen videos in which the SWAT team executed warrants such as this one. It appeared very glamorous and exciting, however, I image that officers who execute these warrants often see many things that sadden and disgust them.
Good point Brandy. Television has a way of making even the most difficult things seem glamorous and exciting when in actuality for the people involved, its a very stress filled situation. It would be nice if reality could be edited alot like television is.
Why do some family members and friends who know about the activities in these homes, knowing of the danger involved with such, don’t come forward with information to stop this activity from going on around children.
If a family member or a friend, visit frequently, it would be hard to miss that kind of activity. After all, most of the traffic in and out of a dealers house involves distribution (not to mention using).
I have never seen television make this sort of thing look glamorous at all. I also think that if reality were edited, we would not know of the dangers that we face everyday. We would have no way of teaching our children the outcome of drugs and violence. We would all be blinded by it, and we would be doing a big disservice to the defenseless.
We have to be made aware. We don’t need to be blinded by this world. In closing, in most cases where drugs are in the presence of children, there is some type of neglect.