SMOKE SIGNALS CITED IN DRUG CASE

DOVER - Smoke Signals Pipe and Tobacco shop was summonsed Friday on a
misdemeanor charge of selling drug paraphernalia.

Dover police executed a search warrant Oct. 19 and seized the store's
inventory of glass water pipes and other items that are allegedly used to
smoke marijuana or other illegal drugs. The store manager, Susan R.
Hargrove, was summonsed on a charge of selling drug paraphernalia.

But Friday's citation was directed at the business itself, which is owned
by Hargrove's mother, Kelly Hargrove of Exeter. Police Chief William
Fenniman said if there is a conviction, any penalties would fall on her.
The summons was served on attorney James Schulte, who was listed as an
agent for the business.

Both the business and Susan Hargrove are scheduled to be arraigned in Dover
District Court on Nov. 9.

The Hargroves have said they will fight the charges and are in the process
of hiring a defense attorney.

The police affidavit to obtain the search warrant states that undercover
agents from the New Hampshire Attorney General's Drug Task Force purchased
several smoking items from the store soon after it opened in September. The
clerks said that they were to be used for tobacco, the affidavit stated.
The store was marked with signs that told customers they had to be 18 or
older to enter and they would have to leave if they made any reference to
illegal substances.

But in their affidavit, police cited experts who said the pipes were not
used for anything other than smoking illegal drugs. Fenniman said this was
the first search warrant of its kind in the state and it could set a
precedent for shutting down similar shops.

Smoke Signals, which is located at 1 Main St., reopened on the Monday after
the police seizure and continues to sell cigars, rolling papers and herbal
smoking blends. Susan Hargrove said that the items police seized were worth
$3,000 to $5,000.