SEIZED DRUG MONEY BEING USED FOR FREE DRUG-TESTING KITS

Money seized in a drug case is being used to purchase drug-screening kits
for parents worried about their children's substance abuse.

The Washburn Police Department is buying at-home marijuana and cocaine
testing kits, which take just minutes to screen urine for chemicals found
in the drugs. The kits are being offered free and anonymously to any
Washburn-area parent who suspects their child may be using drugs.

"The idea just popped out of my Italian head one day that this would be the
ideal opportunity to spend drug confiscated money in a positive manner,"
said Washburn Police Chief Ron Rizzo, who purchased 50 test kits for $200.

"It will certainly send a message out to young people that we're going to
do this, and if they're going to experiment with drugs, they may be caught
not only by the police, but also by their own parents," Rizzo said.

Money to purchase the kits was seized during a routine traffic stop in
February, Rizzo said.

James Morrison, 40, of Hurst, was stopped for speeding. After Morrison
surrendered a small amount of marijuana, police searched his car and
allegedly found $16,000 in drug-tainted bills, Rizzo said.

Morrison was charged with misdemeanor possession of 10 to 30 grams of
marijuana and is awaiting trial, police said.

The money was confiscated and eventually distributed to the town and
various state agencies, as required by law, Rizzo said.

"Our share of this seizure was $12,000, and we can spend the money on
anything to do with battling the war on drugs," Rizzo said.

Some of the remaining seized money will be used to purchase police
equipment, to send officers to drug education training, or for anything in
general to combat drug problems, he said.