Death following Michigan raids prompts concerns over police tactics
Earlier this week, Oakland County authorities raided two medical marijuana businesses and several private homes, arresting 15 people and confiscating what was allegedly $750,000 worth of marijuana and equipment. One of the facilities raided, Clinical Relief, is located in Ferndale, Michigan where the City Council voted just two days earlier to lift a moratorium on such businesses.
Now comes news that one of the individuals whose home was raided, 67-year-old Sal Agro, has died of an apparent heart attack. Agro, who recently had hip replacement surgery, and his two sons ran the Clinical Relief facility in Ferndale prior to this week’s raid. Here’s video of Agro recounting the actions of the officers who carried out the raids. According to Agro, the masked officers destroyed portions of his home, pointed a shotgun at his daughter-in-law, and confiscated 20 marijuana plants (he and his wife are each registered patients; under Michigan law, registered patients may possess up to 12 plants each for medical use). Despite all this, Agro claims he was never placed under arrest and was denied any opportunity to view the search warrant until after the raid.
It’s obviously too early to say whether the raid contributed to Agro’s death (though the stress of the raid and arrest of his wife and two children couldn’t have helped), but in addition to concerns over how such raids are carried out is the question of why? Michigan voters spoke clearly when 63% – and a majority in every county – approved a medical marijuana ballot initiative in 2008. Also, on election day 2008, Ferndale voters approved a local ordinance that would allow medical marijuana dispensing. And as I mentioned earlier, the Ferndale City Council had lifted its moratorium on businesses like Clinical Relief’s. Sheriff Bouchard may have hinted at his long-term goals when he opened a press conference to discuss the raids by saying he and prosecutor Jessica Cooper would use the time to “talk about what we think the legislature needs to do.”
One final wrinkle to the story is whether judges have the ability to deny patients access to physician-recommended medicine during the pendency of their trials. Of those arrested earlier this week, some were arraigned in the 51st District where they were denied access to medical marijuana by Judge Richard Kuhn, who likened the situation to drunk driving suspects who are not allowed to drink while on bond. Others were arraigned in the nearby 43rd district where Judge Joseph Longo took no action to deny access to medical marijuana. “They have every right to use whatever medications” their physicians prescribe, Longo told the Detroit Free Press.
I often wonder, would a judge deny access to much more dangerous medications like opioid painkillers to those with prescriptions from their doctors?
29 comments
This is murder. Cause and effect.
Somebody needs to stick it to these guys. This should be promoted to a very high level. Go to Judge Napolitano on Fox, or John Stossell (spelling?).
This act should be very high profile since it was or could have triggered the cause of his death.
Wonder why it is that our police force is so determined to kill us? Go chase down some bank robber or something. Quit shooting dogs and killing people over a buzz…It’s becoming uncool to be a police officer, huh? Like some sort of legal skin head…no respect given, none deserved.
That wasn’t a confiscation, that was theft. And yes, self-defense by the owners would have been justifiable in a free society. But this one isn’t free, and the peaceniks are just as much to blame for that as the violent authority figures in that regard. After all, it is the peaceniks telling everyone to never resist authority when they come to take away everything you own.
Sheriff Michael Bouchard orchestrated this whole mess by knowing that these medical marijuana businesses are not protected by rogue scums like him. If these dispensary are really into criminal activity then they have to give extortion money to Sheriff Bouchard which they don’t. Because of that, the sheriff will come up with 150 complaints along with the help of Jessica cooper expertise in providing loop holes in the law to prosecute and reek havoc against a legitimate business.
We are the “some folks” that need to stop this hate crime that is done by the Oakland County Sheriff Department.
Sheriff Michael Bouchard, during his press conference, expresses a bunch of cheap shots against people who uses marijuana. Those are the “some folks” that he will not protect even if they do follow the law. To him it is a fair game to hate those kind of people and give them trouble.
This is the reason marijuana must be legalized.
I’ve wondered where they get those guns?
Can you say “NAZI?”
sounds to me as if the law was broken and again gang violence kills another, or at least that is what I think of when you say men with guns wearing masks are destroying my house looking to take objects I have the right to possess away from me
is anyone still fighting for this cause? news, news, propaganda and more news………no action!
they should get manslaughter for that
The final question in this story was whether or not “judges” would take away stronger medication like opiate painkillers from people arrested for a crime…
The answer is absolutely yes. It doesn’t matter what your condition, nor how bad your chronic pain issues, nor how respected your pain doctor. Get arrested and spend more than a few days in jail, and you will be seen by a half-ass jail doctor (often a nurse or a nurse practitioner at best) that will arbitrarily decide they know much more about pain management than your expert pain doctor (who specializes in the subject), and take you off your meds. IF you are lucky, you may get weaned off very abruptly. If not, you can fully expect a serious, potentially deadly fight with immediate withdrawl. Hallucinations, massive cramps, vomiting, and many more fun and exciting symptoms will ensue. So yes, this is the norm and it should come as no surprise to anyone that the criminal justice system has no sympathy for anyone’s medical needs.
Holy Smokes! They kick down the doors and take property and medicines. This sounds like Nazi Germany. Oh, it’s Ferndale, MI. Never mind. Shame on you Sheriff Bouchard. You’ve become a corrupt thug. A gangster with a badge.
Rev.sLeezy
every cop is a criminal and should be treated as such. NO RESPECT.
Furthermore, its time we demand that police officers – ALL OF THEM – have degrees in sociology, psychology and communications. Most of these jar heads couldn’t flip burgers at McDonalds.
I can fully attest to everything Opiod Patient said as being the TRUTH. When I was incarcerated, I was never given ANY of the meds I need to combat massive neck and back pain. I went through 8 days (also kept in jail unconstitutionally longer than necessary because my judge was “on vacation”) of vomiting, sickness, extreme dizziness, heart palpitations, etc. This was FORCED WITHDRAWAL and could have killed me. Thought of suing but don’t have the money.
“Thought of suing but don’t have the money” That about says it all, if you want ACTUAL justice you better have a boatload of money to buy it with. Otherwise shut up, drop yer pants and bend over ’cause here comes your public defender.
I’m still bothered by the sight of those guns. They all look brand new except for the Uzi, and there is no ammo anywhere to be seen.
Those weapons that are displayed ought to be investigated and verified by their serial number including finger prints on the weapons and the proof of ownership.
(Something is still not right about all of this) The whole thing looks like it has been staged including the press conference.
The more I watched and listened to the video, the more question it brings.
Cannabis must be legalized and protected with full rights from criminals, prohibitionist, and hateful organized extremist.
I was able to see a container of ammo when I freeze-frame the beginning of the display items.
All I could say is that CLINICAL RELIEF is a bogus clinic that was planned by Sheriff Bouchard, Captain Newman, Jessica Cooper, and the owner of the Cafe along with undercover agents.
The Sheriff screwed up his propaganda efforts on trying to discredit medical marijuana clinics by giving out too many details of this fake set up. The press conference is also fake.
Did you noticed that Jessica Cooper is not looking out in the audience because there isn’t any.
When you watch the press conference video a few times you can tell that the whole thing is a fake.
I’ve realized that CLINICAL RELIEF was a legitimate business until the business was secretly set up by various federal law enforcement officials and the Oakland County Sheriff department without the Cafe co-owners and their employees knowledge.
There seemed to be a clue that Captain Newman and the Cafe owner might be involved with the set up.
I’m just trying to figure this out. There is no doubt a planned set up to recharge and place owner of Clinical Relief multiple charges. This was all done by Captain Newman undercover agents who supplied everything including the uncontrolled transactions.
Now it all makes sense. Sheriff Bouchard just does the propaganda song and dance with a few cheap shots and the detailed stories. Next time don’t vote for him.
Sorry, I need to make a correction. The guns that I saw that were displayed at the press conference video was a large caliber Glock pistol and not an Uzi.
I’ve watch the video ten times and trying to understand all that was taken place and read carefully of what was being presented at the conference. Including the statement that Captain Newman of the Oakland County Sheriffs Department advise the manager that the clinic appears to be in violation of the law.
It doesn’t sound like a threat or a warning but somehow after that advisement by the Sheriff department, the undercover officers took over the place and everything went out of control. All the crime was being done by the undercover officers and not by the owner or the employees. The Cafe owner was not at fault. It was a plan set up by the ambitious Sheriff Michael Bouchard.
There should be an investigation on this matter because Sheriff Bouchard is using Jessica Cooper expertise to reinterpret the law his way and to make an attack on Clinical Relief and to anyone who legally provided the marijuana at Clinical Relief who are not undercover officers.
Okay I’m finished making replies.
is anyone still fighting for this cause? news, news, propaganda and more news………no action!
The answer is yes. Its called prop 19. Once it passes, other states WILL follow. The end is near. This may not be the ‘fight’some may be talking bout but will bring about the end of ‘ boys and thier toys’ raids.
If this was a set up by the cops, it goes against everything cops stand for. When I was young pigs stood for pride, integrity, and guts. What these cops are being accused of is lying, and fraud. They are taking prohibition to a new high. I have never had anything but respect for the guys that put their lives on the line for me and my family. These cops used their job for politics. They just can’t stand to loose all the free money from cannabis. to bad, it will happen anyway. Oh, and by the way maybe we should think about what the tea party is saying and VOTE THEM ALL OUT.
#20 : one can only hope………..
I’m a legit grower one city over. It’s sickening to see this poor person die to the stress caused by the actions of the police force. They didn’t serve or protect anyone during these actions. In fact they only hurt honest citizens.
Well, kill or be killed was I right or not? If you don’t have a battle plan in place to protect your marijuana operation from legal and illegal thugs, YOU ARE NOT LIVING IN REALITY!!!! The war is on and the Feds are going to win. DON’T TELL ME WE’RE FIGHTING THE MARIJUANA DRUG WAR ON PEACEFUL TERMS ANYMORE. (Go figure???)
is it time for another civil war to take our country back? hell the ones we fund to help us won`t even stand up for us. mpp`s crappy bill in arizona won`t let you grow if you live with-in 25 miles of a pot shop–what a joke
Guns and violence aren’t going to solve any of this. Clamoring for violence is just going to give the prohibitionist some juicy sound bites (print bites?) for their propaganda. It’s time to turn off the rhetoric and turn out the vote in California (and other places with mj on the ballot this fall). Regiser. Vote. Change things. Share the links.
All the anti-prop-19 arguments boil down to “it’s better to put people in jail than to let ordinary Americans grow a little marijuana in their own back yards.”
The key to success: Register to vote. You’ve got to register well in advance of election day; it only takes five minutes (even if you have to download a form and take it downtown, it’s well worth the effort). All of these links use the usual h t t p : / / w w w prefix:
California:
sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_vr.htm or to vote by mail
sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_m.htm
Vermont
vermont-elections.org/elections1/registertovote.html
South Dakota:
sdsos.gov/electionsvoteregistration/registrationvoting.shtm
Arizona:
Voter info:
azsos.gov/election/VoterInformation.htm
Register: azsos.gov/election/voterregistration.htm
Michigan: michigan.gov/documents/MIVoterRegistration_97046_7.pdf
Oregon: oregonvotes.org/votreg/vreg.htm
Others: Google your state name and “voter registration.”
College students: You can usually register as a citizen of either your hometown or your college residence town. Share the voter registration info through your student newspaper, twitter, etc.
Everybody: Most states allow early voting and/or vote-by-mail, so once you’re registered, go ahead and request a ballot (at the voter info site for your state). Save a trip to the polls and get it done while you’re thinking about it.
5 minutes. Change the world. Share the links.
Guns and violence aren’t going to solve any of this. Clamoring for violence is just going to give the prohibitionist some juicy sound bites (print bites?) for their propaganda. It’s time to turn out the vote in California (and other places with mj on the ballot this fall). Regiser. Vote. Change things. Share the links.
All the anti-prop-19 arguments boil down to “it’s better to put people in jail than to let ordinary Americans grow a little marijuana in their own back yards.”
The key to success: Register to vote. You’ve got to register well in advance of election day; it only takes five minutes (even if you have to download a form and take it downtown, it’s well worth the effort). All of these links use the usual h t t p : / / w w w prefix:
California:
sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_vr.htm or to vote by mail
sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_m.htm
Vermont
vermont-elections.org/elections1/registertovote.html
South Dakota:
sdsos.gov/electionsvoteregistration/registrationvoting.shtm
Arizona:
Voter info:
azsos.gov/election/VoterInformation.htm
Register: azsos.gov/election/voterregistration.htm
Michigan: michigan.gov/documents/MIVoterRegistration_97046_7.pdf
Oregon: oregonvotes.org/votreg/vreg.htm
Others: Google your state name and “voter registration.”
College students: You can usually register as a citizen of either your hometown or your college residence town. Share the voter registration info through your student newspaper, twitter, etc.
Everybody: Most states allow early voting and/or vote-by-mail, so once you’re registered, go ahead and request a ballot (at the voter info site for your state). Save a trip to the polls and get it done while you’re thinking about it.
5 minutes. Change the world. Share the links.
That’s right, California, you are going to have to sign people up to vote. Set up tables, Have a drawing for a prize, Give them a voters registration card, keep it and mail it in so the person won’t forget to. The young will carry the prop 19.
http://foavc.org/
Check out the above web site. It can be another way for the people to amend the constitution to get the government from restricting all your rights, including marijuana. There are many other issues that could be included in an amendment, like term limits for Federal judges, and US Supreme Court Judges who have turned on the people with forfeiture laws, allowing corporations to buy elections, and allowing corporations to buy and own patents on our seeds for food and animals. We could also amend the way votes are counted for elections, and amend the way candidates area treated during elections giving viable candidate equal exposure and rights, and possibly make the Patriot Act illegal with an amendment that addresses those losses in a way that they cannot be abrogated for even a day.
It will take your participation in what you want amended and to safeguard any rights we have left are not erased.
@ Clarence, nobody puts their life on the line for you and your family. These thugs have just joined a club that gives itself permission to treat you and I as enemies while still picking our pockets for a paycheck.Pretty slick little deal if you ask me.
Read “Warren v. District of Columbia” if you REALLY want to know the limits of police responsibility. Then go out and get yourself a gun because if you ever need the police, they WON’T be there.
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