SC Police: Phelps Off The Hook

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Crime in the News
Posted on Mon Feb 16, 2009 at 03:16:16 PM EST
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I guess the South Carolina authorities have milked it for all it was worth. It's an Emily Litella "Nevermind" moment:

A South Carolina sheriff said Monday he was not going to charge swimmer Michael Phelps after a photo of the 14-time gold medalist showed him smoking from a marijuana pipe. Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said during a news conference that he didn’t have enough physical evidence to charge the swimmer, but he defended his investigation.

Not so lucky are the other folks swept up in this insane "investigation:"

The sheriff’s office said seven people arrested during the investigation would still face a simple possession of marijuana charge, which carries a maximum penalty of 30 days in jail or a $575 fine. Another person was arrested for driving under suspension.

The beat goes on. Speaking for me only

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SC Police: Phelps Off The Hook | 24 comments (24 topical)

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I Liked HBO's 'The Wire' Cast Comments (5.00 / 1) (#2)
by daring grace on Mon Feb 16, 2009 at 03:41:12 PM EST

Admittedly, I'm pretty contemporary tv ignorant, don't have HBO, and never watched 'The Wire', but I liked some of the cast members' reactions to the Phelps situation:

Snip:

""I am literally shocked that he lost the f@@king Kellogg's endorsement. It's a f@@king cereal. What do you think stoners eat?" said James Ransone, who played hapless dock worker and small-time dealer Ziggy, at a Sports Illustrated party on Wednesday."

"And André Royo, who played lovable junkie-informant Bubbles, thought Kellogg's loss was medical marijuana advocates' gain: "At the end of the day, I think it's a great advertisement for weed," said Royo at benefit on Monday for Women's Expressive Theater. "It didn't slow him down. He broke records! I can see Michael being the face of whatever that marijuana-legalization proposition is in California: 'You, too, can get eight medals if you smoke a bong.'""

: Watch the wire- rent it (5.00 / 1) (#5)
by samtaylor2 on Mon Feb 16, 2009 at 06:10:30 PM EST

It has to be one of the best/ smartest shows ever on television.

: Love that! (none / 0) (#6)
by atdleft on Mon Feb 16, 2009 at 06:49:43 PM EST

I can see Michael being the face of whatever that marijuana-legalization proposition is in California: 'You, too, can get eight medals if you smoke a bong.'
I'd love to see that commercial! "Dope: The Breakfast of Champions!" ;-)

Pretty Funny (5.00 / 1) (#4)
by squeaky on Mon Feb 16, 2009 at 05:29:47 PM EST

The arrests were made after the alleged owner of the bong reportedly tried to sell it for $100,000 on eBay. Professional poker player Zachery "Carter" King, winner of the 2008 Poker Stars World Championship of Online Poker Main Event, was fingered as the owner. In an Internet post he denied attempting to sell the smoking utensil, which is allegedly custom-made and worth over $500.

But this is not funny at all but rather outrageous:

Joseph McCulloch, a lawyer for one of the eight, said the deputies ordered one home's three occupants to the ground, seized computers, cellphones and cameras, and later questioned the three extensively about Mr. Phelps," reported the Journal. "Dick Harpootlian, who represents another of the arrested men, said deputies appeared to be interested primarily in gathering evidence against Mr. Phelps."

Raw Story

$500 for a bong? (none / 0) (#8)
by MileHi Hawkeye on Mon Feb 16, 2009 at 08:39:13 PM EST

Wow. If I'm going to spend that much on one, it would have to hand blown by the American master himself.


: for 500 (none / 0) (#11)
by boredmpa on Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 02:08:05 AM EST

you could just get a volcano.
healthier too.
but...having seen the chihuly exhibit in SF, i would certainly respect such a purchase.

Statement by Richland County Sheriff LEON LOTT (none / 0) (#1)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Feb 16, 2009 at 03:29:53 PM EST

Statement by Richland County Sheriff LEON LOTT:
I had nothing to do with Michael Phelps coming to Columbia and making a bad decision. He did that. His bad decision and the highly published photo placed me and the Richland County Sheriff's Department in a no win situation. Ignore it and be criticized or address it and be criticized. I chose to do what was right. [...]
Even with his star status he is still obligated to obey the laws of our state. He is not immune from his responsibilities to do what is right. He is also human and can make a mistake.
I took an obligation in my oath as Sheriff to enforce the law equally and fairly without any personal bias or prejudice. [...]
Our investigation focused on the possession, use and distribution of illegal drugs in Richland County. The incident in November only initiated our investigation, which resulted in the arrests of adults who were at the time of their arrests in possession of illegal drugs. [...]
The house of the November party had previously been the subject of a drug case and other crimes. The related house in Irmo had also been the subject of a previous drug case. Both locations were the source of problems in our community. [...
Having thoroughly investigated this matter, we do not believe we have enough evidence to prosecute anyone that was present at the November party.

Huh? (none / 0) (#3)
by squeaky on Mon Feb 16, 2009 at 05:07:48 PM EST

Do you think that this is false?

The sheriff's office said eight people were arrested during the investigation. Seven have been charged with simple possession of marijuana, which carries a maximum penalty of 30 days in jail or a $575 fine. Another person was arrested for driving under suspension.
The sheriff's office wouldn't identify those charged but an attorney for three of them said the cases should be handled just like any other marijuana possession charge. Attorney Dick Harpootlian said he expects his clients to either have the charge dismissed or for them to get a conditional discharge, which allows an offender to avoid punishment as long as they comply with certain conditions for six months and stay out of trouble.

I have absolutely no idea (none / 0) (#7)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Feb 16, 2009 at 07:52:08 PM EST

what you're talking about.


OK (none / 0) (#9)
by squeaky on Mon Feb 16, 2009 at 09:23:31 PM EST

Having thoroughly investigated this matter, we do not believe we have enough evidence to prosecute anyone that was present at the November party.

From what I have read people were prosecuted.


The incident in November (none / 0) (#14)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 09:17:56 AM EST

The incident in November only initiated our investigation, which resulted in the arrests of adults who were at the time of their arrests in possession of illegal drugs.

During the investigation - months after the Phelps incident - they found people with drugs on them.


Oh (none / 0) (#15)
by squeaky on Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 09:24:04 AM EST

Are you arguing that their arrest was random and unrelated to the fact that they were at the November party? A crazy coincidence?


Very odd convo squeaky. (none / 0) (#17)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 02:08:02 PM EST

I have no idea what your point is nor where you think I've "argued" anything.

If you want to "argue" with the Sheriff, and apparently you do, are you arguing that the people arrested were at the November party? (I have no idea, I never even thought about it until this very second) Or do you have some "gotcha" info that the Sheriff didn't know or didn't disclose?

Very odd convo.


Just Going By Your Quote (none / 0) (#18)
by squeaky on Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 03:39:12 PM EST

By the sheriff. It contradicts other information out there. The owner of the bong was arrested, and the sheriff tracked down a number of people who were at the party in November.

I do not know where you got the quote, as there is no link, but it contradicts other quote by the sheriff and his department.

Perhaps your point is that the people were not prosecuted, but they were arrested. Nonetheless this part of your quote is very misleading imo:

Were that the case no one would have been arrested and put on probation and/or fined.


My "point" was (none / 0) (#19)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 04:11:27 PM EST

to add info to the discussion. That info being the actual sheriff's comments.

fwiw, I'm pretty sure the bong owner was not present at the Nov party and I've read nothing that indicates any party-goer is being prosecuted.

My understanding is that the sheriff's investigation led them to arrest, and presumably will prosecute, 6 or 7 other people for possession - people who were not at the party.

And that these 6 or 7 other people did have drugs in their possession when they were interviewed by the sheriffs.

In fact, I think the sheriff says pretty much exactly that.

If you have additional info that contradicts the sheriff's comments, have at it. The more info the better I always say.

I've long since lost the link to the article I quoted from, I believe it was the LA TImes though.

If you think I'm misquoting the sheriff, in some dastardly plan, you are certainly free to cut 'n paste any part of his comments that I quoted into google and find the article. Shouldn't be too hard.

I'm still not sure what your fight is, but I am sure I have no dog in it.


Again (none / 0) (#20)
by squeaky on Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 04:18:44 PM EST

To be clear, it seems that the last part of your quote seems dubious. And I do not think that you are misrepresenting anything, just that the quote contradicts other stories:

We now know who owned the bong used by Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps in that infamous photo, according to Poker News Daily.

Poker News Daily reports its owner was professional poker player Zachery "Carter" King, one of seven people busted in conjunction with the Phelps "Bong-Gate" case in Columbia, South Carolina. King had been living at the Blossom St. party house where Phelps was photographed in November.


Was he at the party? afaik, he was not. (none / 0) (#21)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 04:22:05 PM EST

OOps (none / 0) (#22)
by squeaky on Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 04:24:22 PM EST

Here is the link

Seems to me that he was at the party. And I am not sure why the seven people would be even mentioned in the context of this case had they not been at the November party.

Hero South Carolina Sheriff Leon Lott got nearly an ounce of weed off the streets when he arrested eight kids who may have seen Michael Phelps hit a bong. And where's the gratitude? Nowhere!
"All they asked him was, 'Were you at the party in November with Michael Phelps? Do you know where the bong is? Do you know who did see him?' " said Mr. Harpootlian. Neither attorney would name his client.

Sources say the owner of the bong (none / 0) (#23)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 04:29:50 PM EST

Sources say the owner of the bong was trying to sell it on eBay for as much as $100,000.
The owner, who wasn't even at the party, is one of the eight now charged.

: We'll See (none / 0) (#24)
by squeaky on Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 04:36:18 PM EST

But I do not understand how the sheriff could get search warrants in the course of the Phelps investigation for searching people who were not at the party.
Obviously the sheriff can not prosecute anyone from the tabloid picture unless they confessed to smoking weed at that time. It is not clear that those arrested were not at the party.
Not worth belaboring.

Why should these people (none / 0) (#13)
by JamesTX on Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 09:04:37 AM EST

have to walk a narrow line for six months when their only crime was associating with a celebrity and getting in the path of starstruck backwoods sheriff?


The only one doing wrong here.. (none / 0) (#16)
by kdog on Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 10:34:00 AM EST

is your office Sheriff...in the natural sense of right and worng, not the law book version.

I know, I know...you don't right the law Sheriff, but Mother Nature gave you a brain and heart and conscience...use 'em will ya?


no, they were arrested. (none / 0) (#10)
by cpinva on Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 12:39:08 AM EST

From what I have read people were prosecuted.

so far, none of them seems to have actually been prosecuted. persecuted, yes, prosectuted, no.

as i noted earlier, this was just a transparent plea for publicity by sheriff lott, for whatever future political office he aspires to. there never was any physical evidence that mr. phelps actually smoked anything, much less pot. he certainly never admitted to it, as the sheriff finally admitted himself.

when sheriff lott does run for office again, i do hope whoever runs against him finds out how much this publicity stunt cost the taxpayers of richland county, and why sheriff lott neglected to report that on his official campaign finance reports.

with any luck, sheriff lott will fade into the oblivion he deserves.

I would think (none / 0) (#12)
by JamesTX on Tue Feb 17, 2009 at 08:59:23 AM EST

that some of those promo bucks could help out the invisible 7. As usual, the commoners are flogged until all the facts are in (although if they were hanging with Phelps, "commoners" is probably not quite accurate).

I'm tired of this. You should be, too.

I'm sure Phelps takes care of his friends. He ought to.