View from the cop: Crime & punishment
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AJC.com > Metro > View from the cop > Archives > 2008 > April > 22 > Entry
View from the cop: Crack is wack
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
My granddaughter celebrated her second birthday with a princess party. It wasn’t easy but I finally found a men’s size 44 princess costume and so off I went. Turns out the costumes were for the kids only—it was a bit awkward.
Anyway, on the way I stopped by the gas station / convenient store for about $50 worth of gas, about three-quarters of a tank or so. I walked in the store part of the gas station and literally could not find the cashier due to the clutter piled up on the checkout counter.
Apparently this store owner is big on the sales theory that if you pile everything up on the counter, it will have eye appeal since your eyes cannot see anything but the trinkets and other junk staring you in the face. If you are in the market for little NASCAR key chains, lighters with the Bud Girls on them, energy tablets, rolling papers, small energy bottles of who-knows-what, tiny elephant air fresheners, or other items of the personal enhancement category, then this is your flea market from heaven.
As I stood to pay for the gas on the gas pump didn’t want to take my card but had an insatiable curiosity about my zip code—over and over, I had the occasion to look at the little glass mirror display cabinet housing the tiny glass vase holding the cheap rubber and plastic flower. I noted to the clerk that the tiny glass vase looked suspiciously like a crack pipe. He smiled and said “Flower for your lady?”
“Do you smoke the flower or use it as a pipe cleaner between crack hits?”
He smiled and gave me that I-don’t-speak-English look although I just heard him talking on the phone with a thick Brooklyn accent.
“Seriously, it’s a crack pipe isn’t it?”
“No-No, it’s a small flower for your lovely lady.”
“If your lady is a crack head?”
“Ah Ha Ha—you make a joke!”
“Look the pipe—vase, has a hole on each end and a bubble down here on the bottom. See, you put the stem with the crack right here and then light it and then draw it to your mouth right here.”
“No-No—it’s a vase.”
“Okay, why won’t it stand up? It’s rounded off at the bottom and won’t stand up. What kind of vase won’t stand up?”
“Ah, ha ha—you make another joke.”
“Dude, your English was really good on the phone so I’m just asking, don’t you know this is a crack pipe?”
“It’s a vase.”
He had a look like he’s responded to this question a hundred times. He was on autopilot and as bad an actor as he was, he wasn’t going to say anything other than this crack pipe was a vase although he couldn’t look me in the eye.
I know that if or not these convenient stores sell crack pipes badly disguised as flower vases won’t have an impact on illegal drugs but it’s almost like they’re putting in your face. Put a sign on there saying “Crack Pipes” or maybe just don’t sell them.
Well, labeling crack pipes as crack pipes would make them illegal to sell so why not just get rid of them? How much money do they bring in? How do they monitor who buys them? Just get rid of them.
Services »
Comments
By JD Keiss
April 22, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this
You are correct, sir! It makes me angry that we try to have the message sent to our children how bad drugs are, yet we allow merchants display drug paraphernalia like papers and pseudo crack pipes disguised as vases. Like they check ID’s for kids buying smokes, too! Keep up the good work, Lt. Steve!
By BexB
April 22, 2008 11:39 AM | Link to this
There’s a place in Macon that sells “Water Pipes.” Yeah freakin right! And I poop rainbows and fairies!
By T-Mom
April 22, 2008 2:25 PM | Link to this
That has always driven me nuts. How do you in good conscience sell that? Or a better question, as a business owner, is that really the clientele you want to cater to? Wouldn’t they be just as likely to steal the pipes as to buy them?
By Peyton
April 22, 2008 2:29 PM | Link to this
There’s a big difference in the drugs crack (pipe) and pot (water pipe) and the people who smoke crack (trash) and the people who smoke pot (laid back hippies).
By LMAO
April 22, 2008 3:06 PM | Link to this
And all this time I thought a “crack pipe” was the pipe that the plumber with the low rise pants worked on…..Now I get it….
By NICK
April 22, 2008 3:28 PM | Link to this
Rose, this is what you call journalism?
Stop harrassing the business owner and do your job and “bust” criminals.
Just because the vase looks to you like a crack pipe, does not mean it is.
By Wally Sutton
April 22, 2008 3:41 PM | Link to this
You forgot to write down the address of this establishment, sir. If you dont want the plastic flower, do you get a discount?
By One
April 22, 2008 3:54 PM | Link to this
He!!, aren’t you the police? Then set up a sting and have their butts arrested!!! Y’all know how to set folks up, do it!!! Get one or more of your informants to go in and buy some, then BUST THEM!!!!! And don’t forget that most of these stores sell the little baggies too!!!!
By JUNE_BABY
April 22, 2008 4:01 PM | Link to this
the worst person is not the junkie, but the people who enables the junkie. the pusher, supplier, etc. business owners may be the worse, because they don’t care whom their products harm, as long as they can make a sale. with no regard, as to whether the product will be used illegally. local authorities, such as liscensing boards, police, etc. don’t care either. what’s good for business is all that matters to a lot of highly placed people. they probably get their attitudes from guv’nor SONNY. any business is good business. the only reason pushers(unliscensed businessmen) are busted, is because they aren’t paying off the right people.
By Cucamonga
April 22, 2008 4:11 PM | Link to this
@ One,
Sorry, but you would have to prove that the store owner knowingly sold this “vase” as a crack pipe, and even then it wouldn’t probably be hard to confict them. Why do you think they get away with selling rolling papers? We all know what people use rolling papers for, but what people do with it after they leave the store has nothing to do with the owner. Is it morally wrong? Yes. Is it illegal? I don’t think so.
By reader
April 22, 2008 4:33 PM | Link to this
The police don’t make the laws, they enforce them. If there is no law indicating that the sale of these “vases” and other drug paraphernalia are illegal, as Cucamonga suggests, then get your legislators to pass one. Do something.
Too many families are devasted by drug addiction, and there too many premature deaths due to accidental overdoses. It just doesn’t happen to others, it can happen to you and your loved ones. And, sadly, it does. This crap is thrown at our kids from so many different directions. Have you ever heard the parent who says, “My kid would never do drugs.”? The fact is, you just never know.
Thanks for the reminder, Lt. Rose.
By One
April 22, 2008 4:38 PM | Link to this
Cucamonga, then this is wated space. Why write about something that noone can do anything about? This is an officer’s blog, complaining about illegal paraphernalia, yet he can’t DO anything. He!!, Lt. Steve, you may as well use this space for something you CAN do something about. It’s kinda like pi$$ing in the wind……………..
By Marie
April 22, 2008 4:46 PM | Link to this
The weirdest thing about that story is that you thought you had to wear a princess costume to the princess party. I’m surprised that the clerk didn’t say “Flower for your man?”
By Marie
April 22, 2008 4:47 PM | Link to this
The weirdest thing about that story is that you thought you had to wear a princess costume to the princess party. I’m surprised that the clerk didn’t say “Flower for your man?”
By One
April 22, 2008 4:53 PM | Link to this
I think most men (even if stupid enough to wear a costume to a child’s party) would’ve opted for the “prince” costume.
By Stone
April 22, 2008 4:58 PM | Link to this
I think if he could, the Lt. would get rid of all these crack pipes/flower vases, but alas, the cops have to follow the law, too. Crack is such a loser drug, folks. So is Meth and definitely heroin. What a shame about the Ga. Tech pitcher, on a full ride to college, dying from allegedly doing heroin. And then news that a CNN anchor got busted in central park doing Meth. Man, I’ve been as down as one can be, homeless, broke, suicidal, alone, depressed and I never would have done that crap. (of course, I have done my share of toking) What’s up with these folks who seemingly have it all doing this stuff?
By fk
April 22, 2008 5:23 PM | Link to this
Good kids are enticed into drugs just the same way as wayward kids are. Unfortunately, heroin no longer has the old stigma attached to it b/c needles are no longer required. Leave the GA Tech kid out of this—-his family is suffering, let them be. Show some compassion. Once that official report comes out, all those who sit in judgment will be posting like crazy.
By Tommy
April 22, 2008 5:40 PM | Link to this
…a loser is a loser, whether he smokes crack or not… if there was no such thing as crack, the same person would be addicted to alcohol, perhaps to coke, maybe heroin (most likely not),…. as just as many people smoke crack on the southside of Atlanta on any given night, the same amount are smoking it on West Paces Ferry….and we all know, it’s the truth…
By Stone
April 22, 2008 7:54 PM | Link to this
FK- “leave the GA Tech kid out of this, his family is suffering, let them be”? Are you serious? This is a cop blog, I’m saying what a shame it is about him dying. How is that not showing compassion? I really feel for the kid and his parents and certainly don’t think by posting on this blog I’m adding any grief to that which they already have. Why don’t you just post your stuff and allow others to post their’s? Who the f*ck are you to tell me what to write? Believe me, sonny boy, I’ve earned the right to speak my piece and I won’t be muzzled by the likes of you.
By Pookah
April 22, 2008 8:47 PM | Link to this
Not everyone who purchases rolling papers uses it for illegal substances. Some like to roll their own cigarettes. And some musicians use it to clean under the keys of a flute or other instrument where it’s so narrow only the thin paper will work and not leave lint behind.
By fk
April 22, 2008 10:30 PM | Link to this
Stone: Yes, I’m serious. If you’ve ever known anyone who has lost a child, regardless of the circumstances, you would had the good sense not to have mentioned this young man in such a public forum. To outlive a child is, by far, the saddest and most unnatural experience for a parent.
Sonny boy?
By Van
April 22, 2008 10:33 PM | Link to this
Does anyone here have a business near them that NEVER has any customers but somehow stays in business? I am saying that you NEVER see a car in the parking lot, or if you do see someone walking out they never have the product that is actually sold in that store (i.e. a CD player). It kind of makes you wonder what they are really selling in there.
By Fred
April 23, 2008 12:26 AM | Link to this
Dear fk,
Do you pay Stones bills? Do you write him a paycheck? Do you give him sexual favors? If the answer to those questions is no then have a cup of STFU and stick to nagging your husband and kids. I don’t think Stomne gives a fat rats as….. um butt, what you think. Heck, I think you are a petty tyrant for trying to control someone elses behavior but do you really care what I think? I thought not.
Oh, and have a nice day. :)
By Stone
April 23, 2008 7:02 AM | Link to this
Thanks Fred. FK is a little confused. He/she thinks just because someone has died prematurely, others should not even mention their name or refer to them in any way as if that will lessen the tragedy of it all. I guess this also means the AJC, the GA Tech newspaper or the TV news. He/she also thinks that the parents, among the many duties they must be dealing with this week, are also checking in daily with “view from the cop” to see if anyone has even mentioned their kid. I’ll say it again, what a shame about the Ga. Tech pitcher…dying alledgely from heroin. If that offends anyone, tough. Deal with it.
By Linda Teros
April 23, 2008 8:24 AM | Link to this
You have to wonder how much crack Stone smokes in a day. The way this commenter keeps Picking fights like a paranoid delusional crack head, it must be a lot. If you smoke crack, stone, then get back, but if you’re clean, you can be a blogging machine.
Try rehab. :>(
By ElBubba
April 23, 2008 9:50 AM | Link to this
Lt. Steve,
You’ve given me a wonderful idea. My GF has a birthday coming up, I’m going to buy her a dozen of those little crack roses.
El Bubba
By Stone
April 23, 2008 10:28 AM | Link to this
LOL! Whose picking fights, Linda? You and FK should get together and cry and complain and leave me out of it. Somebody has a different viewpoint than you and all of sudden they are a paranoid, delusional crackhead who needs rehab? Makes a lot of sense, not!
By ElBubba
April 23, 2008 10:53 AM | Link to this
…maybe a half-dozen, don’t want to give her the wrong impression.
By Pedro
April 23, 2008 12:15 PM | Link to this
Peyton hit it when he distinguished between crack and pot, but the fact remains that this stuff on display in the gas station reinforces its legitimacy.
Trouble is that the head shops posing as adult toy stores sell the same stuff (out of sight of the underage)for 10 times markup. That’s why the convenience stores sell them so cheap - it draws in customers who buy the other crap. It’s not the profit from the pipes, it’s the markup on twinkies that has them selling that stuff. The folks using those devices probably have the munchies.
Of course no self respecting cop needs an enticement or the munchies to come in for twinkies.
Steve, were you buying twinkies again?
By Freddy
April 23, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this
Stone, you just made Linda’s point. You’re quite mad, you know.
Why do you swing at everything? Just let it go.
And dont smoke dope. Just dont. It doesn’t look good on anyone, so dont feel bad if most folks think you come across like a banshi on this blog. Anyone would who smoked as much rock as you, man. :}
and dont let no one call you a retard either, you’re not, you’re just stressed, so try exercise, reading, and triple-lipping and you’ll be fine, sir. (now watch as stone goes ballistic over this one)
what a fallguy.
By ElBubba
April 23, 2008 2:20 PM | Link to this
Maybe I could get her one crack rose, things aren’t that serious
ElBubba
By olfart
April 23, 2008 3:09 PM | Link to this
Gret stuff Steve. I’d love to hear your take on the Lithonia fiasco.
By olfart
April 23, 2008 3:10 PM | Link to this
Gret stuff Steve. I’d love to hear your take on the Lithonia fiasco.
By ElBubba
April 23, 2008 3:47 PM | Link to this
Name this tune.
“Cracklin’ rose your a store bought woman and you make me feel like a guitar hummin”
ElBubba
By Stone
April 23, 2008 5:10 PM | Link to this
Cracklin’ Rose, Neil Diamond
By ElBubba
April 23, 2008 5:20 PM | Link to this
Stone wins! Goal!
Stone, you get a lttle boquette of crack roses at our yearly gathering.
ElBubba
By G. Mauricio
April 23, 2008 8:16 PM | Link to this
Stone Rules! I never post on this sight but I really love reading every body elses and I got to tell you Stone is one of the few that doesn’t hurl names and act rude to others but actually tries to have a discussion. He’s got an opinion and states it and then tries to defend his opinion against little jerks who have no opinion to share at all just insults. Don’t get in the gutter with these little people stone and don’t change what your doin’ cause I think you rule. ELBUBBA too.
By G. Mauricio
April 23, 2008 8:16 PM | Link to this
Stone Rules! I never post on this sight but I really love reading every body elses and I got to tell you Stone is one of the few that doesn’t hurl names and act rude to others but actually tries to have a discussion. He’s got an opinion and states it and then tries to defend his opinion against little jerks who have no opinion to share at all just insults. Don’t get in the gutter with these little people stone and don’t change what your doin’ cause I think you rule. ELBUBBA too.
By ElBubba
April 23, 2008 9:22 PM | Link to this
Mauricio just wants his own little crack boquette with roses. Flattery will get you nowhere chico…
You people thought I was off last week when I said it was the end of normal times. LLamas, zebra, pig tasering, and now another zebra. What’s next?
Wouldn’t you like to know (evil laughing).
ElBubba
By Stone
April 24, 2008 7:28 AM | Link to this
El Bubba thanks for the crack roses. Muricio thanks for the flattery dude/dudess. No worries, the little freddies of the world actually crack me up. If I’m not getting insulted by the “little people” I’m not posting right. Have a good day everyone!!!
By bob
April 24, 2008 8:04 AM | Link to this
Fred, leave stone alone. Our children can buy crack pipes in convienience stores. That’s the issue. It gives them society’s permission. A child will know exactly what it is, and think, “Oh, if it’s on sale here, then it’s not so bad. I think I’ll tell my friend who showed me his dad’s stash that I’ll smoke some with him the next time he offers.”
Once a child smokes crack, it probably is over for that child. Once a child is molested, it’s over for that child. Once a child is allowed to languish from neglect, it’s very likely over for that child.
The Chinese indoctrinate their children. Curriculum matters. Curriculum does take a village. A crack pipe in a gas station does as much harm as teaching prayer does good.
Officer Rose waves a proper red flag here. But do go and make a travesty of the issue with your singing jingle contest.
Like I said, crack ruins minds and lives.
By Lynn
April 24, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this
You are so right if it is and it is a crack pipe sale it for what it is. you can take a tolit and put a dozen roses in it but, it is still a tolit!
By Stone
April 24, 2008 7:07 PM | Link to this
…and a nice smelling to-lit at that.
By ElBubba
April 25, 2008 12:32 AM | Link to this
This is cool. I don’t know much about prisons a rehabilitation but it looks like this program seems to be helping a lot of people.
http://www.ajc.com/pets/content/pets/stories/2008/04/24/dogs0425web.html?cxntlid=homepagetabnewstab
By Rocky
April 25, 2008 11:53 AM | Link to this
the business owner is what you call a capitalist pig, why should he care if it’s crack pipe or not, retailers cater to the demands of their customers, and I guess that includes crack heads.
By Qualcom Investor
April 25, 2008 2:49 PM | Link to this
crack is from the devil. know it. believe it. live it.
By Oiling the squeeking unhinged
April 25, 2008 6:30 PM | Link to this
Anyone ever see before/after pix of crack users?
folks, volunteer your time to help these lost souls. THey can overcome it, but only with your help. Mentor, or just listen or just be there. If a pet can help older people, then think what a human being can do for younger ones.
By Stone
April 25, 2008 6:55 PM | Link to this
Words we all need to hear Oiling! People aren’t condemned to spend the rest of their lives on the dark side just because they have gotten themselves in a jam. I was lost once too, a total loser (drunk, morally bankrupt, homeless for longer than I care to admit)and I’m thankful for those who didn’t look the other way, who thought more of me than I thought of myself. I feel for those who haven’t been as blessed and lucky as I have been and know I need to remember them as I lay my head down in my Johns Creek dream house with my beautiful wife and the son I thought I’d never have. Thanks for the reminder Oiling.
By Fred
April 25, 2008 7:46 PM | Link to this
You are scaring me again Stone. I didn’t tell you that you could tell my story. Well except for the Johns Creek part, I wouldn’t live up there. I live ITP.
Oiling:I have to admit, I have a problem understanding the whole crack thing. I tried it and was like “This is what folks are ruining their lives for? I don’t get it, they need to try some GOOD drugs.” Of course there are no “good drugs,” but you know what I mean. I don’t know Stones story, but I would be dead if I hadn’t met my current wife. Just damn, current wife sounds like I have had more than one, what would be the PC term for a one woman man?
I dunno, anyways, Oiling, folks can only overcome if they WANT to overcome. So how can we tell which person really WANTS help? The bottom line is we can’t. We may help 1 and he/she makes it, 10 and 1 makes it, 100 and one makes it, 1000 and 1 makes it, we never know and it isn’t up to us who wants help and who doesn’t. I say just help all you can and let God sort it out. (Get it? It’s a play on the phrase, Kill them all and let God sort it out). I have no clue where I’m going with this so I reckon I’ll just stop without some pithy ending………. oh wait, I may have one……. naw never mind I don’t.
By Oiling the squeeking unhinged
April 26, 2008 1:06 PM | Link to this
It depends on the world you choose to observe: one peopled by hopeless crack addicted losers and scumbags who need prison, or a world with people who need you, yes you, only you, not the other guy, you, and then you get to live in a world where you’re helping others. You have to believe that you have something special that only you can give freely to others.
That’s how we create the world we live in, by making choices, and then observing ourselves living those choices.
Anyone can get drunk. anyone can smoke dope. In the sixties, we thought we were supposed to do just that, like it was some sort of obligation of the new age. Then as we witnessed each other one by one being destroyed, many of us quit the sex, drugs, and rock and roll stupidity. But not all. The ones that didn’t need our help. Now it’s easy to condemn those who didn’t quit, but the problem with that solution is that people are not disposable. It does not take much looking to find someone who needs your help.
By ElBubba
April 27, 2008 6:04 PM | Link to this
I tried crack once back in the 80’s when it first showed up. I thought I was going to have a heart attack but I kind of liked it.
I was also was born with a big dose of common sense, and I never got into the crack thingy. I saw a friend inherit $250,000 and spend it all on coke/crack. I wish I was making that up…
Stop the crack! Stop the Tibetan Olympic torch! Stop the nonsense! Stop survival of the smartest!
El Bubba
By Cindy
April 27, 2008 6:56 PM | Link to this
El Bubba,
If you liked crack…NEVER try meth.
Fair warning bud. :)
By ElBubba
April 28, 2008 2:26 PM | Link to this
Cindy!
I tried meth once too, more thoughts of heart attack. Not for me.
I grew up being one of those “I’ll try anything once” sort of people. Alas, those days are over.
Had to have the heart checked out two years ago, all OK. I do smoke, Winstons.
ElBubba