SandBoxBlogs: Summit Daily News "Heroin ODs spike in Summit County this year"

Caddie Nath:
"Local law enforcement is working to locate the source of what might be a more potent batch of heroin, but the investigation is more difficult without the help of the now-defunct Summit County Drug Task Force.

“We don't have the intelligence gathering that we used to have,” Minor said. “With the drug task force we had a pulse on the drug community and what was going on. We're just purely reactionary now.”

The task force was dissolved in 2010, when the state Justice Assistance Grants program, one of the organization's major funding sources, cut it off to refocus the money on rehabilitation and prevention efforts.

Local governments also contributed to the task force, which once staffed two full-time agents and a part-time administrative employee, but couldn't afford to keep the organization running after the state money was lost.

Law-enforcement officials said without the task force, they are relying on the public to help them track down the source of the heroin.

“As in any drug issue, someone knows something about the person who's bringing this stuff into our community,” Minor said. “We have plenty of resources up here to help people, but we want the person who's (distributing) it to be held accountable....” (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Pueblo Chieftain "Woman suspected of injecting teen with heroin "

Nick Bonham:
" 41-year-old woman has been arrested for reportedly injecting a teenage boy with drugs and supplying him with syringes of opium.

Diana Larimore was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance, contributing to the deliquency of a minor and violating a protection order....."  (Read more? Click title)

"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "Man charged with felony after alleged heroin overdose"

Should the folks feel outrage at Chief Deputy District Attorney Arnold Mordkin's remarks regarding heroin in the Valley, or should they just feel anger?

For the past few years, as drug and related law enforcement issues have spiked in the area, avatars in commentary have been pushing hard with questions for 9th Judicial prosecutors.  Such as, where are the task forces to take on these major crime problems?  Why don't court officers such as Richard Nedlin know that Red Door in Aspen is it for rehab and it's on its knees with overcrowding and meager funding?

Let's give Chief Deputy Mordkin a hand with his research regarding heroin in the area. Help him get up to speed so that the next time he quotes for the press he can have some factual information to rely on:

http://sandboxcommentators.blogspot.com/2012/03/sandboxblogs-grand-junction-daily.html

http://sandboxcommentators.blogspot.com/2012/02/sandbox-comments-krex-news-5-heroin-use.html

http://sandboxcommentators.blogspot.com/2012/03/sandboxblogs-steamboat-today-heroin.html

http://sandboxcommentators.blogspot.com/2012/03/sandboxblogs-steamboat-today-charges.html 

Chad Abraham:
"In Pitkin County District Court, Judge Erin Fernandez-Ely, filling in for Judge Gail Nichols, advised Lee that he is charged with felony possession of less than 4 grams of a controlled substance and a misdemeanor count of unlawful use of a controlled substance.

As part of his $2,500 bond, Lee will be able to travel to Southern California, where he is originally from. His next court date is June 4.

Arnold Mordkin, chief deputy district attorney, said heroin cases are unusual for the upper valley. The last local case involving the drug was that of an Aspen man who pleaded guilty to attempted distribution of a controlled substance in 2009. He was arrested after police said he provided heroin to a man visiting Aspen who died in 2008 after using that drug and cocaine.

Olson said Tuesday that heroin is not unheard of in Snowmass Village.

“We have it bubble to the surface from time to time,” he said. “Every time it does, people self-destruct pretty quickly.”

Police know the drug is used occasionally, but it’s usually not long before users overdose or are “whisked away” by family members for treatment, Olson said.

“It’s been a self-correcting problem so far but it’s also concerning,” he said. “It’s a brutal drug.” ..."
(Read more? Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."