YOUNGSTERS PLAYING DRUG DEAL GET BUSTED BY POLICE

POMPANO BEACH - Youngsters playing drug dealer in the driveway of a boarded
up crackhouse - selling slivers of plastic "crack" for 20 tree leaves -
also knew how to flee when police rolled by.

The dozen children, ranging in age from 4 to 11 years old, were rounded up
and lectured Wednesday by Broward County sheriff's Lt. James Chinn.

"You expect these little guys to be playing police or firemen but not dope
dealer," Chinn told The Miami Herald. "This hit me right in the face and
ruined my day. This is what they see every day."

The children built a plywood clubhouse in an unincorporated Broward County
neighborhood north of Pompano Beach for their game. Police and county
officials have boarded up two real houses in the neighborhood because of
drug sales, and deputies raided a third home last month, according to
sheriff's records.

The pretend dealers charged 20 tree leaves for a small piece of white
plastic resembling a sliver of crack, in a plastic baggie. A larger piece
cost 50 tree leaves. And a bag of pine tree leaves resembling marijuana
went for five leaves.

"We play tag and dope dealer all the time," said a 7-year-old boy later.
The boy said he collects empty baggies on the streets with friends after
drug users discard them.

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski