POLICE ACTION UNWARRANTED

A story in The Lima News on Friday gave us pause. The newspaper reported
that an Allen County sheriff's deputy entered a home without permission
and, when he found a small amount of marijuana, actually pointed a loaded
gun at the sleeping resident.

How frightening it must be to wake up and find a loaded gun pointed at you.
It is even more frightening when the person holding the gun has taken an
oath to protect and serve.

In case you missed the story, Deputy William Forest was sent on a menacing
call in Beaverdam. He went to the wrong address and got no answer when he
knocked on the door.

Instead of calling the dispatcher to verify the address, Forest took it
upon himself to enter the home. While inside, he saw a knife, an empty gun
holster and a bag of marijuana.

Kevin Fleming, the sleeping man, said he uses marijuana for medicinal
purposes to alleviate pain related to bone cancer.

While Fleming was not arrested, Sheriff Daniel W. Beck said charges would
be filed.

"He should not have had his drugs on the coffee table. He should not have
had his paraphernalia on the coffee table. ... It's not my problem, it's his."

Such an unfortunate comment. Where, if not in the privacy of his own home,
should Fleming be using marijuana? Who would have thought, in the privacy
of his own home, that there would be the danger of police spotting the
marijuana?

While we advocate the unpopular position of a complete end to the
prohibition on drugs, we are probably in the majority when we say people
should be allowed to use marijuana for medicinal reasons. Humanity demands
nothing less.

We are also adamant in our belief that police officers should not
cavalierly violate the sanctity of a private home. Forest should have, at
the very least, verified the address before trespassing.

What Fleming does in the privacy of his own home is his business, provided
he harms no one else in the process. Beck should let the matter drop.

In the deputy's defense, the home was used as a business and apparently had
an "Open" sign. However, Fleming says there is also a sign telling
customers the business is in the garage, not the house.

This incident clearly demonstrates that the concept of being free from
government intrusion in the privacy of our own home is long gone.