DRUG SUSPECTS MAY FIND HOMES PADLOCKED

MT. MORRIS - Residents caught selling drugs could be put out on
the streets.

In an attempt to prevent drug dealing in local neighborhoods, police
have reactivated a 5-year-old program to padlock the homes of people
ticketed for the crime.

"If you get ticketed for drugs, we're going to padlock your home, and
I hope you get on TV and everything," township Supervisor Larry Foster
said in announcing the program at Monday's meeting.

A spokesman for the American Civil Liberties Union criticized the
move, saying it denies basic tenants of justice to the accused.

"We have some grave concerns with this," said Michael Steinderg, legal
director for the ACLU of Michigan. "This makes a mockery of some basic
principles of justice."

The policy affects not only the accused but other, innocent
bystanders, Steinderg said.

"Not only are the accused put out on the street, but those who are
living with the accused, such as children, parents and grand parents,
who have done absolutely nothing wrong, are also punished."

Police Chief Eric King said the program applies only to
repeat offenders who mostly live in rented apartments and homes. But
he added that owner-occupied dwellings can be padlocked as well under
the state's drug forfeiture laws.

Letters recently were sent to two township landlords advising them
that their tenants have been cited for drug dealing and the property
might be seized and padlocked in accordance with Michigan law. The
landlords were encouraged to terminate the lease, or the rental could
be padlocked for up to a year as the case goes through the courts.

King said people arrested for selling drugs often make bail and return
home, where they continue to sell drugs, even before they go to court
on the charges.

"This is a way for us to deter drug trafficking," King
said.

King said he believes Mt. Morris Township is the only community
outside of Flint that has such a padlock program.

Rozell Perry, president of the Dailey-Dolan East Community
Organization, praised the effort.

"I think it's great. It's the best thing they could do," she said.
"It's about time they did something about this."