The owners of a Shefiield convenience store need to be arrested and jailed

Those items can be found in just about any convenience store.

The lighters and brillo pads are self explanatory. The glass tubes...cigars and roses are sold in them. Most stores also seel rolling papers specifically designed for smoking pot.


(the link you posted is only available to members, can you c&p it here.)

Will wonders never cease... I am shocked at this

Link don't work... so who was in on the arrest?

Brillo pads?? Have I missed out on something ?

If you look at ANY convenience store counter, you will find all of the component parts for said 'setup': (1) small glass tubes with tiny 'roses' inside for your 'girlfriend/wife', (2) copper 'filter screens' for your clothes washers and (3) Bics. Sold separately, no crime is committed, but.....

the pads are used as a screen ...placed in the tube to keep the dope from being 'sucked' up while it is being lit/burned. Common household light bulbs can also be used instead of the glass tubes.


(Let me give a little background. While I am not a law officer, I am closely affiliated, along with being closely affiliated with Al DOC.)

quote:

Originally posted by dogsoldier0513:
If you look at ANY convenience store counter, you will find all of the component parts for said 'setup': (1) small glass tubes with tiny 'roses' inside for your 'girlfriend/wife', (2) copper 'filter screens' for your clothes washers and (3) Bics. Sold separately, no crime is committed, but.....

You have GOT to be kidding???? Then how in blazes do they get off arresting people (a year ago?) for having several packages of cold medicine in their truck????

If things are that easy to buy, is it only a certain 'elite' group that purchases it and gets left alone. I am thinking back on that couple who was arrested with cold medication, and the police decided they were taking it to manufacture cocaine... anyone remember that???

sorry, here's entire article.

Covington police arrest convenience store owners

By Greg Little, Managing Editor

Story Photo

Nabil Abuelouf is escorted by Covington police officer Mark Daugherty. (Photos by Greg Little)
The owners of a Covington convenience store were arrested and jailed Wednesday for allegedly selling drug paraphernalia.

The two were charged with “manufacturing and selling illegal drug paraphernalia,” according to Sgt. Garrison Taylor of the city Drug and Gang Unit. It is a Class E felony.

Acting on a tip from a citizen, police obtained a warrant and entered the Thrifty Mart at the corner of Simonton Street and Peeler Road at around 3 p.m.

Arrested were Hewelanda Hassan Abuelouf and Nabil Ibrahim Abuelouf, both of 287 Junior Drive in Covington.

“We have been receiving complaints for months about this location,” said Taylor.

Taylor said a citizen reported that persons could go into the store and ask for a “setup.”

The setup consisted of a small glass cylinder, a piece of a Brillo pad and a lighter. It cost $3.

Taylor said that paraphernalia is commonly used to consume crack cocaine.

Taylor also said it is known that crack cocaine has been sold by persons on the parking lot of the business.

Police confiscated several pipes, the cylinders, Brillo pad material and plastic containers commonly used to package marijuana.

After the arrests, the store was closed.

Taylor said police will be meeting with District Attorney General Mike Dunavant to see if there is a process to have the store closed permanently as a public nuisance.

“We have to show it is a nuisance,” said Taylor.

To do that, police will present arrest records and other information relating to the business location.

Covington Police Chief Bennie Carver said his office will not tolerate this type of activity.

“We’re not going to allow it,” said Carver.

He also said police will target “anybody” suspected of being involved in drug activity “or any kind of crime.”

The chief was also pleased that a tip from a citizen led to the arrests.

“We appreciate the public letting us be aware of this,” said Carver. “That’s what it takes to help us fight crime.”

Carver also praised Dunavant, saying he feels the police department has the “full support” of the district attorney.

The liquor store I am referencing to is on 2nd street. on the left side just down from the ABC store. It is run by indian's or pakastani's. He has the tubes and brillo pads hanging up behind the counter. I asked him why he sold that stuff and he just smiled at me.

quote:

Originally posted by Kindred_Spirit:

quote:

Originally posted by dogsoldier0513:
If you look at ANY convenience store counter, you will find all of the component parts for said 'setup': (1) small glass tubes with tiny 'roses' inside for your 'girlfriend/wife', (2) copper 'filter screens' for your clothes washers and (3) Bics. Sold separately, no crime is committed, but.....

You have GOT to be kidding???? Then how in blazes do they get off arresting people (a year ago?) for having several packages of cold medicine in their truck????

If things are that easy to buy, is it only a certain 'elite' group that purchases it and gets left alone. I am thinking back on that couple who was arrested with cold medication, and the police decided they were taking it to manufacture cocaine... anyone remember that???

It all goes to 'intent'. LEOs view someone with multiple(more than 2-3) packages of OTC cold medication to be 'intent upon' making 'meth'....not cocaine, btw.

quote:

Police confiscated several pipes

The news people sort of 'slipped' this in there. It doesn't mention what kind of pipe. If a pipe made specifically for drugs...their case may stand...if not, the charges won't hold.

I always wondered why you always saw the fake roses in some type of glass vase. It never really made since but I really didn't think very much about it.

Hmmm...sounds like the Hindu's are smoking hashish.......

The Brillo pad is for sticking it where the sun don't shine, so when you get thrown in the pokey nobody will have man s** with ya.

I am acquainted with the owners of that store, they are Sikhs by the way. All of my dealings with them have shown them to be kind and generous as well. I have to ask why they should be singled out and arrested for doing what pretty much every other store in the area does? Can anyone expect to walk into that store (package store) for anything that isn't at best bad for you?
And why doesn't Sheffield PD do anything about it? That is simple to answer with two statements: the highest paid patrolman makes almost 50% below the national median income for police officers and all of them work overtime due to lack of warm bodies in cars. And if they arrest, either A) it won't be procescuted B) the sentence will be so light that it is pointless. So look a bit higher than SPD.

I have not seen the same CRACK smoking devices in other package stores.

It's good to know that even though SPD make less then other police department that they are only working for money. It would be nice to have someone working that wanted to make a difference. Even if the store owners were not convicted they might get tired of being raided and stop selling crack cocaine smoking devices. It would make it harder for drug users to get the stuff.

I would like 244 boxes of psuedo ephedrine please

quote:

Originally posted by Spounge Bob:
It would be nice to have someone working that wanted to make a difference.

'Aggressive' police officers usualy don't last long in small town departments. If an officer is aggressive, i.e. doing his job, the Mayor catches 'hell' from the local activists. THEN, the Chief of Police catches 'hell' from the Mayor. THEN, the Patrol Supervisor catches 'hell' from the Chief. Then the... Get the picture? BTDT

quote:

Originally posted by dogsoldier0513:

quote:

Originally posted by Spounge Bob:
It would be nice to have someone working that wanted to make a difference.

'Aggressive' police officers usualy don't last long in small town departments. If an officer is aggressive, i.e. doing his job, the Mayor catches 'hell' from the local activists. THEN, the Chief of Police catches 'hell' from the Mayor. THEN, the Patrol Supervisor catches 'hell' from the Chief. THEN the... Get the picture? BTDT

quote:

It's good to know that even though SPD make less then other police department that they are only working for money.

Thats not really the case. They (the ones I know, I won't speak for the rest) stay in Sheffield, not going to other area police forces, not going to Private security firms, or state institutions eventhough they all pay better. They stay and do the best they can.

First off the case you cited was in TN, they have different laws concerning "drug paraphernalia". In Alabama, items such as pipes, papers and the such are not legally drug paraphernalia unless accompanied by the drug itself, if even in a small amount. I don't remember seeing the crack there beside the pipes & filters.

Next, look at the cost vs. benefits: Possession of drug paraphernalia is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a $2,000 fine. Estimate cost of prosecution somewhere around $4,000 for a noncontested (no appeals or plea bargains) arrest. Then tack on the very public loss in court when they can't prove legal paraphernalia and the resulting false arrest lawsuit against the city.

Finally, we'll change Possession of drug paraphernalia definition and say rolling papers, the roses in tubes, pipes ect that we all know the uses for are illegal and SPD arrests on all of them. Let's use a concervative figure like say 500 arrests in one month for paraphernalia & small amounts(I'd put it closer to 1000+) and already the problems arise. Where are we gonna store 500 people? Remember the $4,000? 500 * 4,000 = $2,000,000 how are we going to pay for this? And I would bet everyone would be contested too so that number is way way too low.

Would we not be better served to spend the money and man hours on the people selling the drugs? Closing stores and thus further shrinking the laughable tax base won't get very far. Much more and the tax base will consist of title loan places and churches.

quote:

Look at the cost vs. benefits: Possession of drug paraphernalia is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a $2,000 fine. Estimate cost of prosecution somewhere around $4,000 for a noncontested (no appeals or plea bargains) arrest.

Unless grossly mistaken, the DA's position, as well as that of the judge, are salaried positions. They don't get paid (or charge the city) on a 'case by case' basis. Is Sheffield expected to 'simply look the other way' because of the potential 'cost' of fighting criminal activity?

I have a very personal stake in Sheffield. In addition to living here and choosing to raise a family here, my great-grandfather DIED in the line of duty as Chief of Police for Sheffield in 1938.

As LEOs, private citizens or business owners, you can NEVER base the decision to ignore criminal activity on 'cost'.

quote:

Unless grossly mistaken, the DA's position, as well as that of the judge, are salaried positions. They don't get paid (or charge the city) on a 'case by case' basis. Is Sheffield expected to 'simply look the other way' because of the potential 'cost' of fighting criminal activity

I did not mean they should overlook crimes because of the cost. But... if resources are such to force a choice and they appear to be worse than that, small crimes should go first. if you have a job for 50 people and only have 25, something isn't going to get done. I know for fact that much more severe crimes with better evidence get tossed by the DA so what happens when they get flooded with cases for misdemeanors that aren't clearly defined (paraphernalia with no drugs)? They get trown out, thus waisting the time and manhours to arrest.

More on cost of prosocution in Sheffield. The city has to send almost all of its evidence off to be evaluated, fingerprints, drug residue, DNA all have to be sent to the state for a cost. Personally, I would love to see all the crimes arrested & prosocuted, saddly sometimes you do have to pick your fights.

During the recent "sex toy ban" where it was illegal to sell, own, or operate a sex toy, did Florence PD raid Spencers arresting and putting the teenage cashier on the front page for breaking the law, when it was much more clearly in violation than the package store that is really in a grey area at worst? Should those rebels who received small(or large) brown packages from internet sites have been arrested and put on the front page? Both crimes were class A misdemenors carrying up to 1 year in jail btw.

HOW DARE THEY!!?? Atrocious....selling components of impromtu crack pipes! If we threw the store owners in jail, then crack addicts wouldn't be able to smoke anymore crack....GENIUS! Afterall, that package store is the only store in the ENTIRE area that sells glass tubes, copper brillo/wool and lighters....Wow, getting that store's owners off the street would certainly help me sleep better at night by knowing that 100's of crack addicts would be wondering around in Sheffield holding 100's of crack rocks with no way of smoking them...BRILLIANT. Better yet, let's throw EVERYBODY that sells either small glass containers, copper pot scrubbing brushes or any sort of fire starting device in jail!! To heck with them for facilitating crack smoking!!

[Wasn't this thread started by the same Nobel Prize winner that started THIS one?]

Wnen I worked in Tueplo a young man came up to my truck, where I was cutting some stainless piping for a job I was doing on. He offered me 20 bucks for a 6" piece of pipe. Heck yes, I took him up on the deal. It was get rid of him now, or shoot him later for stealing materials out of my truck or worse him shoot me. I guess he had a brillo pad or whatever. I know know what he wanted it for now. At the time I thought to myself huh.

quote:

First off the case you cited was in TN, they have different laws concerning "drug paraphernalia". In Alabama, items such as pipes, papers and the such are not legally drug paraphernalia unless accompanied by the drug itself, if even in a small amount. I don't remember seeing the crack there beside the pipes & filters.

People being arrested in Alabama for drug paraphernalia is in the TD all the time. I know of two people that claim to have been charged with drug paraphernalia by possessing 1.5 rolling papers with no weed.