ONE DUMB DOPER

Teen Busted for Toking at Cop Shop

A teenage boy's freedom went up in smoke Friday afternoon after he
decided to stop for a hoot outside police headquarters. "I'd say this
would be the dumb criminal of the week," said Winnipeg police
spokeswoman Const. Shelly Glover.

At noon on Friday, a passerby told officers inside the Public Safety
Building that a young man was smoking a joint in the Princess Street
building's courtyard. The courtyard is located in front of the
building near a massive historical mural of the Winnipeg Police Service.

Const. James Gauthier and Const. Andrew Zurawsky found the 16-year-old
boy smoking pot.

"We were quite surprised to (find) that someone was doing something
like that," Zurawsky said.

A search of the teen turned up two marijuana roaches and a small
amount of what police believe is the illegal stimulant crystal
methamphetamine.

Charged With Possession

Privacy laws prevent police from discussing the teen's reaction to his
arrest. Glover did say he was surprised.

"He did not know that this was a police station," she
said.

The teen was charged with drug possession and released. Because he is
a minor, police did not release his name.

The youth's arrest wasn't the first time someone was busted for
smoking dope at police headquarters.

Last summer, B.C. marijuana activist Marc Emery was taken into custody
after taking a hoot off a giant water pipe during the Winnipeg leg of
his Great Canadian Smokeout tour.