MOCK DRUG BUST PART OF COMMUNITY DAY EVENT

VALDOSTA -- Every day the men and women fighting the "war on drugs" go
to work not knowing when or even if they will come home. One such
individual, Federal Agent Enrique Camarena, did not come home.

The death of Enrique in 1985 brought Americans together and spurred a
weeklong anti-drug campaign known as the Red Ribbon Campaign.
Thursday, area children and residents took part in a Community Day
held in the Wal-Mart parking lot on St. Augustine Road.

The event brought people from all walks of life together to celebrate
a "drug free life."

Mark Williams, coordinator of alcohol and other drug education, said
that the purpose of the Red Ribbon Campaign is to raise awareness.

"The earlier we educate children on the dangers of drug use, the
better. This way they will carry the knowledge with them as they grow
and go out into the world."

The basic idea Thursday was to show people what could happen if they
chose to get involved with drugs. People were exposed to drug dogs and
how they have been trained to take a fleeing suspect down upon
command. They were also shown the "Jaws of Life," which aid in
removing a trapped victim from a wrecked automobile.

Ronald Woods, Remerton's Fire Chief, said, "Many of these people have
never seen the jaws before. Also, we were able to demonstrate what
happens if the jaws fail and we have to use our hand tools."

Woods further stated that people were surprised at how long it took to
get a trapped individual free from the wreckage.

"The first thing we have to do is get the person in the vehicle secure
and stabilized then we start cutting," Woods said.

The all-day event ended with a Lowndes County Narcotics Division "drug
bust."

Spectators were lined up on both sides of the Wal-Mart entrance when a
blue Jeep Cherokee came rushing in with two drug units following close
behind.

They watched the agents subdue the fleeing passenger and then persuade
the driver to surrender. It was the backseat passenger that caused the
most commotion in the mock arrest.

The crowd quickly diminished as the remaining suspect jumped out of
the vehicle, then shot and "killed" one of Lowndes County's finest.
The suspect was "killed" in the process as well.

If nothing else got the attention of the citizens of Lowndes County,
this exhibition did.

Captain J. D. Yeager of the Lowndes County Sheriff's Department said,
"The Red Ribbon Campaign, which is just one part of the DARE program,
gets people's attention and brings them together for a common goal. As
a whole, the DARE program has definitely made a difference in the
lives of our children."