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Show Undercover work y elds 27 arrests on drug counts by Christopher Smart Chronicle staff The University Police recently arrested 27 people on felony drug counts culminating six months of undercover narcotics work. The "very successful" operation, according to University Special Investigations officer Jjl. Larry Hedberg, was credited to a single undercover agent woiking for the University Police Department. That operation, however, received less than mixed reviews from the county attorney's office and Pre-triServices, a branch of Salt Lake County al government. According to both county organizations, no "big arrests w ere made. "All but one arrest were made on drug sales of less than $50." said Dennis Hunter of Pre-triServices, which interviews everyone booked into the Salt Lake County jail. Hunter said that many of the sales were under $25. Jack Hiatt of the Salt Lake County attorney's office confirmed that no large quantities were purchased by undercover agent Guy Dodge. "I'm not convinced this operation had a significant effect," he said. Hiatt will prosecute most of the cases for the county that came out of the "operation." al University Public Safety director Wayne Shepherd maintains that the undercov er sales approach gets to the source of the problem in of the drug traffic. "We work with one-fift- h that other departments do. I be would foolish for us to buy large quantities every time." he said. Any sale of a controlled substance buy-mone- y constitutes a felony. According to Hedberg. the law is the same no matter what the quantity of the sale is. In September, Dodge went through rush at the University fraternities. For the next 10 weeks he acted as a pledge at one fraternity, while expanding his ."relationships" and drug contacts. During that period of time he alledgedly purchased drugs from 10 students, four University staff members, and 13 individuals that weren't officially related to the University, according to the University Police Department. The Pre-triServices be only maintain the to count appear as the principal witness. "Cases have never come up this fast before," Hedberg said. A new Utah statute requires a preliminary hearing within 30 days of arrests. The county attorney's office maintains it is still adjusting to the new law. A number of students arrested for selling drugs hav e complained that Dodge "harassed" them until they sold him drugs. A source close to the county attorney's office said "legal entrapment" may be a problem in some of the cases pending and some of those already dismissed. Shepherd, however, commends the woi k of Dodge. "Dodge did an excellent job. He did not v iolate anyone's rights," he said. One source in county government questioned the manner and time which the students were arrested the week before finals. One student was taken from class. Another was arrested in the middle of the night. But Shepherd asserts that University-Policwere not try ing to teach the students a lesson by the manner of the arests. "It's hard to round up 27 people in one week," Hedberg said. "You can't do it from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m." "It was very educational for ihern." Shepherd said. "But if we wanted to, we could have come down on them hard, which we didn't." The time and money involved in arresting, booking, and trying the defendants in this operation are way m excess of the crime, said a source in county government who wished not to be identified. Shepherd said his detriment likes to get to students before they become big time dealers. al non-stude- nt four. The arrests were made in the first two weeks of December, according to Hedberg. Six of the cases were dismissed when the arresting officer went out of town on Christmas vacation and was not able to RENT A BWTV Today "fl a.m. Books and Banter, Horatio A Iger: Farewell the American Dream, reviewed by Edward J. Davies (history), OSH 255. 11 a.m. Perspectives in Business Lecture, Risks and Rewards of the Entrepreneur, Richard Eyre, BuC 102. 11 a.m. Metallurgy Seminar, The Wasatch Fault, Retrospects and Prospects, William 9:55 month Also rent stereo systems, home entertainment centers, washers, dryers, microwaves, fridges and color TVs. L. Strokes, WBB 207. Noon Health Science Film, Manic Depressive Illness and Lithium, Medical Center Classroom C. Noon Social Work Lecture, Private vs. Public: Who Will Win the Battles in the '80s, SW Auditorium. Noon Sack Lunch Seminar, A Discussion of Midwifery in Utah, Ann Deniris, Certified Nurse Midwife, Union 293. 7 p.m. Garden Lecture, The Ancient A rt of Bonsai, Gary Sellick, Bonsai Club of Utah. Union Den. r u $S t.l. u OK CD- - 4Iui 'M. ! mm Applications are now available in ASUU offices for OWL & KEY H01!OIR SOCIETY The University's oldest and most prestigious honor society Founded in 1909 Qualifications o Senior standing o Demonstrated achievement in the areas of leadership, scholarship and vWUOfWfflMM 0X0 (IffiGGKiSS) service to the school or community Deadline Is Friday, Jan. 30, 1981 Help Prevent Birth Defects -The Nation's Number One Child Health Problem. Support the March of Dimes 1DIRTH DEFECTS FOUNDATIONS This space contributed by the publisher |
