DOTHAN DRUG ARRESTS RISE WITH THE SUMMER TEMPERATURES

Dothan police are making more drug-related arrests as the weather
warms up and more traffic passes through the Circle City.

Dothan Police Chief John Powell said the city usually experiences a
jump in the number of drug cases during the summer months, but
overall, the numbers are actually slightly below last year's totals.

"During the summer the traffic flow increases and you have kids out of
school and vacationers, and this type of activity increases because of
the nicer weather," Powell said.

So far in 2005 the city has had 176 drug arrests from April through
June, just two behind last year's totals at this time. Powell said the
numbers are up for marijuana arrests, but the seriousness of the
amount of the drug involved are lower. In that same three-month period
officers made 78 arrests for second-degree possession of marijuana and
only six for first-degree possession.

"You're probably seeing a little more recreational use," Powell
said.

A lot of the arrests are the result of traffic stops, Powell said. But
the department is also very aggressive in its undercover drug efforts.

Lt. Duane Herring, who heads the department's Vice Intelligence
Division, said the number of drug arrests usually spike in the summer
months.

"Activity on everything increases during the summer," Herring said.
"But we're always out there shaking the bushes."

He attributes the recent increases to a combination of patrol units
making traffic stops and vice agents working drug cases. Drug
investigators take over the case from patrol units if the amount of
drugs involve felony possession.

In addition to patrol, Herring said investigators receive information
on drug activity almost daily and actively work those leads.

They also engage in undercover operations where vice officers buy from
drug dealers.

"We also ride the streets and we know the known drug areas and where
the dealers hang out," Herring said. "We patrol those areas - street
corners and night clubs - different areas around town."

Marijuana remains the most common drug. Most of the arrests were for
second-degree possession of marijuana, which is a misdemeanor, he said.

"Those are always the highest," Herring said. "Marijuana is a cheap
drug and it is prevalent."

Herring said marijuana users tend to fall into a broad spectrum of
users.

"It's not limited to blacks or whites, young or old," Herring said.
"You have hippies from the '60s still floating around and you have
young teenagers."

Cocaine ranks as the second-most common drug in Dothan. Police made 70
cocaine-related arrests from April to June in 2005.

Powell said although he considers one drug case to be one too many, he
doesn't believe the numbers are increasing in Dothan. "I don't think
there is a lot more," Powell said. "It's accentuated more on a traffic
stop. But our numbers indicate we're about even with last year, which
is good for us. I definitely think our officer's efforts are paying
dividends."