MISTAKEN IDENTITY PLAGUES FLOWER SHOP

Business Suffers After Competitor Busted In Drug Raid

A North Delta florist says confusion over a drug bust back in
mid-August is killing her business.

On Aug. 13, police descended on JoJo's Flower Shop, 9407 Scott Rd.,
and seized 3,600 opium poppy seed pods police believe were destined
to be ground into doda, a powder used to brew a narcotic tea.

Kris Sanderson owns Delta Flowers & gifts at 8047 Scott Rd. She says
an initial report in a Vancouver daily said only that a North Delta
flower shop was raided and ever since then, her business has dropped
to nearly nothing.

"I first noticed business falling off in August, but I put it down to
people being away on holiday," Sanderson said Monday.

"When I really noticed it was in September. I've had people come in
and say it must be me because I'm the only North Delta flower shop."

Business is down 80 per cent and Sanderson's convinced it's because
of the drug raid and that early report.

When North Delta student Laura Szendrei, 15, was murdered in Mackie
Park last month, Sanderson donated flowers for a memorial at the dead
girl's school. She got the shock of her life when a woman confronted
her as she delivered the flowers.

"She accosted me. She said, 'How dare you come to this school and
show yourself when you're selling drugs.' I told her it wasn't me,
but she didn't believe me."

Several media outlets have since reported the name and location of
JoJo's, but Sanderson said people are still pointing a finger at her.
Dozens of unsold roses are wilting in her cooler, their petals
littering the floor.

After five years in this location and never being a day late paying
her bills, Sanderson is behind in her rent and fears she might lose
the business she loves. She's seen lean times before, she said, but
never like this.

"I just want people to know it wasn't me. It wasn't Delta Flowers."

James Clayton Miller has a similar problem. He says people think he's
a pervert after a Now report of the conviction of North Delta's James
William Miller for sexual assault and other sex crimes involving a minor.

Although he now lives and operates a business in Surrey, James
Clayton Miller lived in North Delta for about 20 years.

"I grew up in North Delta and people know me as James Miller of North
Delta. I had somebody I know say he read about that and thought it
was me. My business has dropped off lately and I'm afraid it's
because of that," Miller said.

"I need you to let people know it's not me."