COPS NAB GARLIC PUSHER

Leamington Police have laid drug-related charges against a 42-year-old
local man alleged to have sold garlic as crack cocaine. The charges
follow an early-morning arrest at an Erie Street apartment Saturday.

Police were called to investigate a disturbance at Apt. 4 of 114 Erie
St. S. just after 2 a.m. Upon arrival, they found the accused seated
with suspected cocaine residue on the table before him.

Const. Kevin O'Neil said that police were told that the man had sold
to another male a substance the accused had described as crack cocaine.

But the "cocaine" turned out to be nothing more than
garlic.

"When you sell something to somebody and tell them it's drugs, it
doesn't matter whether it's drugs or not," O'Neil said.

"He was trafficking what was believed to be a controlled
substance."

As well, a search of the suspect's person uncovered a bottle of
prescription pills that belonged to a resident of another apartment in
the building.

The owner of the pills did not know that the medication had been
stolen.

Jack Youssef faces charges of possession of stolen property,
possession of a controlled substance, and trafficking.

He remained in custody on Monday, awaiting a bail hearing.