- Jun 17, 2001
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You would think the would have security cameras to verify the account of the volunteers (and I hope they do), so we'll see how this plays out. That said, I would not be surprised if this was 100% true.
PLEASE READ THE APPALLING ACCOUNT of events leading to this protest:
We are volunteers of a medical marijuana collective located in Pomona. Our doors had only been open 7 days and since opening, the Pomona Police Department continuously harassed patients and volunteers. We are desperate to get the word out regarding this issue. At this time, I am orchestrating a protest in front of the Pomona Police Department for some time later this week. Currently, 4 volunteers have been arrested and charged with multiple felonies. Their court date is set for May 18th.
The police department kicked down the doors a little after 6:00 pm on Saturday evening without a warrant for the second time in 2 days. They claimed they needed to sweep the office to make sure there was nobody in the building with a weapon. They were unwilling to state the reasons for being there other than they were investigating. When asked what they were investigating, they said for crimes. They were unable to obtain a warrant until nearly 10:00 pm. During this time, the Pomona Police Department threatened the driver of a terminally ill cancer patient trying to fill out paper work in the waiting room. The cancer patient, who appeared gravely ill, asked the police officers if he could please get the help of the volunteers to pick up his prescription. He stated that after receiving his medication he would like to go home, and the officers told him to go to a real pharmacy and get a prescription from a real doctor. The cancer patients driver was forced to leave the parking lot and drive off or he would be arrested. The ill man was left in the waiting room with no medicine, no ride home and when he asked the officers to provide him with a ride home they told him no. As if what I just stated wasn't bad enough the patient is currently under going chemo and needed help to the door by one of our volunteers. He is extremely ill and weak.
The volunteers informed officers over and over again that they invoke their 5th Amendment Right. They also repeatedly stated that the officers were trespassing without a warrant and to please leave the premises immediately. They informed the officers that without a valid letter of recommendation from a doctor as well as California Identification, they were not to go into the room where the medication was being kept. When asked to see a copy of the warrant, the officer claimed he didn't need one.
Sergeant Leonard Badge #3, threatened a volunteer who informed him he was trespassing without a warrant to search the property. He informed the volunteer, "You better be careful what you say to me son, because I am old school." The volunteers invoked their 5th amendment right several times during the interrogation by officers who stated they did not care about Proposition 215 or SB 420. They repeated over and over that this was their turf, and that they were "old school."
The collective is not violating any of the state guidelines. We work closely with our attorney J. David Nick and do not understand why the police continue to harass us or our patients. On Thursday a patient arrived in tears with her husband during a police investigation. An officer told her to go to the hospital when he turned the couple away. Her doctor ordered her to medicate with marijuana. Prior to medicating with marijuana, she was taking enough morphine to kill a horse. She and her husband are both on disability, and we provide her medication for free. She lost her eyesight after nearly bleeding out after having her 4th child 10 years ago. The disease she developed cannot be explained and causes her severe pain. There is nothing doctors can do for her other than keep her medicated for comfort. Her doctors informed her she would have overdosed one of these days had she not turned to marijuana. Marijuana helps to relieve her pain and allow her to eat without making her sick. It is patients like her we take pride in helping.
The Pomona Police officers have pulled patients over and told them never to return or else. One patient who is suffering from brain cancer at the age of 20, pulled his hat off for an officer. He showed him the scars from the last surgery he had where they attempted to take out a tumor. The officer told him they have other medications to help him. As if the boys Oncologist who has been practicing for over 20 years wasn't capable of telling him what to medicate with...
On Thursday, they illegally searched the property and seized the patient's medicine and their files. They detained patients and volunteers for hours without telling them anything other than they were criminals who were breaking the law. This is an obvious shakedown and abuse of law enforcement power. We have tried to inform them that our goal is to provide safe access to medication to patients who qualify and have a valid letter of recommendation along with a valid california identification card or license. The volunteers have explained to officers over and over again they are breaking the law by trespassing, and they are told to shut up they don't know what they are talking about.
We are turning to the media for support and for help because we obviously cannot trust law enforcement who is supposed to be there to protect us. Saturday evening when they arrested the 4 volunteers, 1 officer attacked a volunteer. He threw him on the ground and beat him pretty good before putting him in cuffs and in a squad car. After being released from jail, he was sent to an emergency room to be checked out. When the officer attacked him he hit his head and shoulder on the ground and suffered a shoulder injury.
Please help get the word out.