JEEP DRUG PROBE NETS 13 ARRESTS AT PLANT

Employees Are Fired By DaimlerChrysler

Thirteen employees at DaimlerChrysler AG's Jeep Parkway plant were arrested
yesterday after a year-long undercover operation aimed at cracking down on
illegal drug use and trafficking at the facility, authorities said.

Sgt. Lou Vasquez, of the Metro Drug Task Force, said undercover officers
posed as employees. The investigation began about a year ago after company
officials reported suspected drug activity in the plant to police, he said.

Undercover officers worked side by side with Jeep employees, buying small
amounts of marijuana and lesser quantities of cocaine, Sergeant Vasquez said.

"This was small amounts of drugs being sold right on the [production] line
at Jeep - grams o cocaine and quarter-ounces of marijuana, that sort of
thing," he said.

"We looked at it as a safety issue for the other workers. Ninety-nine
percent of the Jeep employees are hard-working individuals who want to come
in and do their jobs. There is always an element that is looking to make
some money on the side illegally," the sergeant said.

The arrests were made in the plant. They began about 1 p.m. when five
workers on the dayshift were arrested and booked into the Lucas County
jail: Sharon Baker, 51, of 355 Sentry Hill Rd., and Paul Rickman, 22, of
3561 Truman Rd. in Wood County's Troy Township, two counts each of
trafficking in marijuana; Freddie Davis, 41, of 4917 Catalina Dr., and Coyd
McDonald, 51, of 2915 Glanzman Rd., one count each of trafficking in
marijuana, and John Gartee, 40, of 637 Nicholas St., one count of
possession of an unauthorized cable device.

Officers arrested eight people on the afternoon shift about 4 p.m. The
suspects, also taken to the jail, were Gregory Beaverson, 27, of 4611
Manorwood Rd., two counts of trafficking in marijuana; John Oldham, 40, of
3803 Wallwerth Dr., one count of trafficking in a counterfeit controlled
substance; Richard Shute, 54, of 3860 Weckerly Rd., Monclova Township, one
misdemeanor count of unlawful transaction in weapons; James Twigg, 43, of
620 East Park St., and Jay Vonck, 37, of Williston, one count each of
trafficking in cocaine; Brian Konczal, 28, of 116 Bromwich Lane, and Marcus
Vaughn, 25, of 2679 Greenway St., one count each of trafficking in
marijuana, and Charles Worthy, 49, of 207 Taylor Rd., Oregon, two counts
trafficking in cocaine.

The suspects are to appear today in Toledo Municipal Court.

Michael Dewey, 36, who works on the day shift, was given a summons to
appear in court for drug abuse for possession of marijuana.

DaimlerChrysler spokesman Trevor Hale said the employees were fired
yesterday. He said the company has a zero tolerance policy for possessing,
selling, or being under the influence of drugs or alcohol on company property.

Bruce Baumhower, president of UAW Local 12, which represents Jeep workers,
declined comment.