Oregon police use many different methods to find illegal activity. They use undercover officers, searches of cars, houses and businesses, public informants and many other methods. One common tool Oregon officers use when searching for drugs are drug dogs. These dogs are specially trained to the presence of certain illegal contraband. These dogs help officers determine who they should search for drugs or where they should start their search. Often, the use of these dogs can lead to drug charges.
In a recent case, a drug dog was used to arrest an Oregon man and charge him with unlawful manufacture, delivery and possession of marijuana. The man is a licensed grower of medical marijuana. According to police, a delivery service was used to ship a package to the man's residence. However, while in transit police used a drug dog to search the outside of the package. Police say that the dog indicated that contraband was present inside the box.
Following the dog's reaction, police claim that they obtained a search warrant for the package. After searching it, the police claim to have discovered $12,000 in cash -- money police say, was payment for drugs. Police went onto obtain another search warrant for the man's home, and they allege to have found 65 pounds of marijuana -- which exceeded the amounts he was allowed to have as a marijuana grower. Therefore, he was arrested and is being held on $50,000 bail.
Drug charges are very severe and can result in serious consequences. However, just because police used a dog or other method to find drugs on people, in their homes or in their cars, doesn't mean that the search was conducted legally. Police have many rules they must follow when they use the tools they have at their disposal. If police misstep and overuse their power, then evidence can be excluded in court. With the right criminal defense strategy, excluding this evidence can be crucial for those facing drug charges.
Source: Mail Tribune, "Phoenix man arrested on drug, money laundering charges," Ryan Pfeil, Nov. 27, 2013
No Comments
Leave a comment