FREE CRACK HANDED OUT NEAR HIGH SCHOOL

Prospective Client Calls Police, Pair Charged

AN attempt by two alleged drug dealers to woo new customers by handing out
free samples of crack cocaine near a high school quickly backfired when one
of the would-be clients called police, officers said yesterday.

Det. Sgt. Dave Black said Tuesday afternoon's apparent stunt is a sign of
how competitive the city's drug trade has become.

"It was unique," he said. "I think they're becoming more bold. The market
is becoming quite competitive. "It's obviously a huge concern when you get
individuals targeting areas around schools."

Black said the two men were arrested after police were called and given
some of the crack samples the pair were handing out.

This is not the first time police have seen drug dealers hand out samples
to hook new customers.

Former drug unit Sgt. Lyle MacMillan said three years ago police were
seeing small amounts of crystal methamphetamine being given away. In the
latest incident, Black said the two men handing out drugs were also handing
out a phone number to call if people wanted to buy more.

Two men, brothers with street gang ties, were arrested on Hay Street near
Churchill High School, but principal Jack Solomon said it had nothing to do
with the school or its students. One of the accused is a former student.
Solomon said if the suspects were giving away free drugs to students
outside the school or during school hours, he and his staff would have
taken action right away.

He said the 700 students of the Grade 7 to Senior 4 high school would have
reported it right away.

"If it happened outside our school at noon, I'd know in three seconds,"
Solomon said. "That's the relationship we have with our students." Solomon
also said he hopes the incident doesn't hurt the reputation of Churchill
High School as being a safe place.

"It only takes a few minutes to destroy that reputation."

That's what happened almost three years ago when police arrested seven
Kelvin High School students in their classrooms for openly selling
marijuana and ecstasy during school hours. One of the accused, a
15-year-old boy, sold marijuana on four separate occasions to a female vice
division officer who posed as a student in November 2001.

Kelvin principal Glen Eliasson said at the time the school co-operated with
police to send an unequivocal message to students.

"We're no different than any other high school," he said. "What we will do
is make it safe and comfortable for our students. We will not tolerate drugs."

In Tuesday's incident, Samuel James Decker, 23, and Allan James Decker, 18,
have been charged with trafficking in controlled drug or substance. They
were both released on promises to appear in court at a later date.