STORE TOLD TO STOP DRUG-GEAR SALES

A DuPage County Circuit Court judge issued a permanent order Wednesday
against a Westmont store, seeking to prevent it from selling drug
paraphernalia. Meanwhile, the shop owner contended that much of the
merchandise confiscated in a raid last year is not drug-related, and
he wants it returned.

Chief Judge Michael Galasso issued a permanent injunction against
Sight and Sound, 663 N. Cass Ave., to keep it from selling drug
paraphernalia, such as water pipes and other items marketed for use
with marijuana and other illegal substances.

Last month, Galasso issued a temporary injunction against the store
and its owner, Joseph Sallammi, after a police raid on the store in
which several truckloads of goods were seized.

On Wednesday, Sallammi asked Galasso to order authorities to return
most of that merchandise, claiming that it was not drug-related and
that it was his legally to sell.

When asking for the temporary and permanent injunctions, Joseph
Ruggiero, chief of narcotic prosecutions for the DuPage state's
attorney's office, gave Galasso an evidence list of about 20
confiscated items that he considered representative of what was taken
from the store by police.

Sallammi and his attorney, Dominick Dolci, asked for everything not on
that list to be returned. Ruggiero objected, saying the two truckloads
of goods were almost all drug-related.

Sallammi, armed with sales brochures about various pipes and
tobacco-related products, said much of the merchandise was legal to
sell.

But Ruggiero said, "There may be a few legitimate pipes in there, but
most of it includes one-hitters and bongs."

Galasso contended that if Sallammi wants the items back, a judge will
have to listen to arguments from both sides and determine whether
something is drug-related.

Ruggiero said he may offer to take Dolci to where the confiscated
merchandise is stored so he can review the goods and decide what he
wants to ask a judge to allow the store to sell.

Sallammi also had to pay a $5,000 bond to the county to allow him to
continue to run his retail business. Under the temporary injunction,
he was allowed to remain open, but the permanent injunction required
he produce the bond.

Ruggiero said police have been keeping an eye on the store for
possible violations and will continue to do so.

Last fall, DuPage prosecutors and police, frustrated by what they
perceived as a lack of results in fighting head shops in criminal
court, raided Sight and Sound and All American Sports Cards & Comics,
also known as Alternative Universe, 4941 Main St., Downers Grove, and
filed civil suits against them. The suit against the Downers Grove
shop is pending.