COPS MAKE YOUNG CRACK COLLARS

Police have arrested two 14-year-olds after stopping a car that ran a
stop sign and spotting a young passenger allegedly stuffing packets of
crack in her mouth.

The arrests came as a shock to one drug detective who was surprised at
the age of the pair.

"I'm sure there are dealers this young, but they usually don't deal the
heavy stuff. This is rare for Edmonton," said Det. Gary Lamont, an
Edmonton police veteran and three-year member of the drug unit.

"Crack is an extremely addictive drug that's dangerous for kids to get
involved with - for anyone to get involved with."

Downtown cops stopped a car around 3:20 a.m. Sunday after they saw it
run a stop sign at 121 Street and 102 Avenue.

Police allege the 14-year-old driver gave them a false name as they
questioned him.

They also say they stopped the 14-year-old passenger from stuffing
wrapped pieces of crack into her mouth.

She later admitted to swallowing several other pieces and was taken to
hospital for observation, said police.

Cops seized two cellphones and $880 in cash from the car, which is
registered to a 16-year-old boy.

"It's really disturbing to our members to lay charges against 14-year-
olds," said police spokesman Wes Bellmore.

"It's very sad."

Lamont said it is well known that leaders of drug organizations use
youngsters to distribute their product because the courts usually go
easier on young offenders than adults.

"And maybe that's all they deserve," he said. "They are victims, in a
sense."

Kids are lured into the seedy trade with promises of cash and the party
life, he said. They are given a cellphone, a car and a wage that, to
most teens, would be too good to refuse.

"It's a really attractive offer to a kid," he said. "It makes us really
angry and frustrated."

The teenage girl was released from hospital but was charged with
possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of the
proceeds of crime.

The driver was charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking,
possession of the proceeds of crime, obstructing a peace officer,
personation, and breach of an undertaking.

Names of the pair cannot be released under the Young Offenders Act.