ALLEGED MARIJUANA DISPENSARY LEADS TO 4 ARRESTS IN VACAVILLE

VACAVILLE - A former City Council candidate and three of his
employees have been arrested on charges of operating an illegal
medical marijuana dispensary about a block from the Vacaville Police
Department.

Flash Gordon, 30, was arrested Thursday after being identified as
the proprietor of North Bay Alternative Healing at 537 Merchant St.,
police said.

In November 2008, Gordon placed last in a field of nine candidates
for two City Council seats.

Detectives served a search warrant at the location, where Vacaville
narcotics detectives had identified a marijuana dispensary operating
without an appropriate business license. A search revealed extensive
evidence of marijuana sales, police said.

Also arrested were William Treat, 39, Dustin Hansen, 29, and Elaine
Harris, 25, all identified by police as employees of the shop.

Following a search of the business and the residences of Gordon,
Treat and Hansen, police arrested all four for possession of
marijuana for sale, reports said. All four suspects were taken to
Solano County Jail in Fairfield for booking.

Treat also was arrested in connection with possessing Vicodin and a
dangerous weapon after detectives discovered a set of brass knuckles
and about 100 Vicodin tablets hidden in his garage in the 2000 block
of Day Break Court in Fairfield, police said.

Mark Mazzaferro, the Vacaville department's public information
officer, said receiving an appropriate business license in the city
isn't even an option after the council approved a moratorium on
medical marijuana dispensaries last year.

Narcotics enforcement detectives frequently contact citizens
unfamiliar with current California law regarding medical marijuana,
according to Mazzaferro. Proposition 215, the Compassionate Use Act,
does not authorize anyone to profit from the sale of marijuana, he added.

While state law authorizes some individuals to possess marijuana for
medical purposes, the cultivation or possession of marijuana for
sale is illegal.

The Vacaville Police Department says it has a zero-tolerance policy
toward illegal drug sales and use in the community. It encourages
the public to report all suspected drug activity to the drug tip
line at 449-5243. Callers can remain anonymous and all information is welcome.