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1. Global warming claims all hot air, says speaker at OU2. Police chief: City can’t stop parties before they start3. Parties spun by OU alums have bootie-shakers raving4. High St. student renters take on big local landlord5. Is another oil and gas land-rush starting in Athens?6. OU student charged with raping 17-year-old7. Tanning parlor fights to get back into uptown Athens storefront8. For most, the journey to Nine Fest seemed worth it9. Oak and Mill fests mellow down easy10. Landowners’ group renews leasing pitch11. City Council acts to ban ‘fracking’ in water supply area12. Wal-Mart asks judge to grant store win in shoplifter’s lawsuit13. OU and city officials urge better fest behavior14. Pills defeated relative when no other drugs could do it15. David Alan Jones16. Electric blue skies, May warmth frame music fest17. Local developers hoping to revive struggling hotel18. Festering fests; down, down deep; and the Golden Rule19. Hall of Fame baseball coach calls it a day at OU20. Graphic design students show off their chops
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Wednesday, April 20,2011
Sheriff vows relentless campaign against drug dealers
In January 2009 I was sworn in as the 51st sheriff of Athens County. I am humbled and blessed by the opportunity to serve in what I feel is the best job in the county. We have made great strides in restoring integrity and professionalism to the Sheriff's Office, and I could not be happier with the dedication and commitment of my deputies, administrative staff, reserve deputies, and those who volunteer their services to the residents of our great county.
We have fought ice storms, tornadoes, staffing shortages, etc., and together with our brothers and sisters in law enforcement, fire, emergencies services and residents, we have prevailed.
We have fought ice storms, tornadoes, staffing shortages, etc., and together with our brothers and sisters in law enforcement, fire, emergencies services and residents, we have prevailed.
I would like to address a problem that plays heavy on my heart and that of all my staff. That is the drug epidemic that not only Athens County faces, but one that sheriffs all over the state are experiencing. Families are losing loved ones, addiction is soaring, and families are being torn apart by a problem that society turned its back on for so long, then wondered how we progressed from a drug problem to a drug epidemic.
As sheriff, I want to be candid and leave no doubt to those involved in this culture as to where I stand.
Since January 2009, Athens County has experienced seven homicides, six of which were drug-related. In the preceding years of my taking office in '09, there were nearly 70 deaths from overdoses. Since January '09, we have had approximately 15 overdose deaths, the majority in the first nine months of my taking office. As I have said in the past, this problem did not happen overnight, and we will not defeat it overnight. But we are making great progress. Law-enforcement agencies throughout our county are working in concert to address this problem. The cooperation between agencies is apparent by the number of drug-related convictions the prosecutor's offices are experiencing.
My message is simple. To those addicted to drugs, we want to do everything within our powers to help you overcome your addiction and restore your place in society. A new grant signed recently will be announced soon and will hopefully provide assistance to you. You have to decide that you want to change. We are all praying for your restoration!
Now, my message to those dealing drugs, to those who are destroying the lives of others or directly causing another's death by supplying the drug. Whether it is one pill or a hundred pills, heroin, cocaine, meth or any other drug, you have a couple options: 1. Quit dealing now! 2. You can continue dealing and face the judicial system, and make no mistake, you will. Or, 3. you can possibly become homicide victim number eight.
You are living in a culture that is unforgiving and is becoming ever so violent. I am sure you have other options, but I assure you, we won't endorse them.
It is not hard to have compassion for those who have lost their lives because of this terrible culture, and our hearts and prayers go out to the families that have been left to pick up the pieces. But it is hard to have sympathy for those who, with total disregard for others' lives, forfeits their own lives when this lifestyle catches up with them.
I know that some may take offense at this letter, but as your sheriff it is my responsibility to provide a safe environment for all our residents, from the youngest to the oldest, to work, play and raise our children.
Let's all work together to make Athens County a safer, more enjoyable place to work, play and raise our families.
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Amen Reverend, I mean sheriff.
Watch out drug dealers he means bussiness. Unless your his step son who was chaged with five counts of felony drug trafficking last year and only did four days in jail and was never grand juried. I find it hard to believe in any elected official who shows favoritism for friends or family. Also have to look at the fact that one of his detectives has probably had sex with some CI's. Doesn't look like the most stable sheriff's office
It was the courts that showed favoritism to 'the sheriffs stepson,' not the sherriff per se, but the courts treatment of 'the sherriffs stepson' was probably influenced by the fact that he was 'the sherriffs stepson.' The funny part of it, is that 'the sherriffs stepson' walked away from that situation, and immediately found a full time day job! Talk about being well connected! Whatever the case though, I have a hard time believing that the sherriff didnt know that his step son was trafficking, or 'the stepson' was trafficking from the sherriffs house! Given the treatment 'the sherriffs stepson' received in the court though, the issue was not that 'the sherriffs stepson' was trafficking, but that 'the sherriffs stepson' got caught! Whatever the case, the sherriffs heart wrenching letter/commentary forgot a few categories/statistics, such as: What about those who have been killed because they got in the drug dealers way or somehow inhibited their ability to sell? What about those who have been killed because they owe the drug dealers money? What about those who are being arrested or killed because there is a turf war in place? What about those who are being killed to send a message to someone else? And since we're here, what about the rumor that the sherriff himself is involved with the drug trade in Athens, and that the above letter/commentary is little more than a coded threat intended for those who have gotten in his way, and/or that of the drug trade in Athens? Is the letter a coded message for the sherriffs rivals or enemies (that is, of course, if there is any truth to the rumor concerning Kelly and the drug trade). What about the rumor that persons from the APD are also involved in the Athens drug trade and that yous two are just battling it out for turf ? What about that? And how is it that Kelly has made so many drug busts anyhow? How does he know the 'where and who' as relates to the drug world without being directly in the trade himself? Personally, he seems entirely too informed about the drug trade in Athens, except of course, when it came to busting his 'stepson.' And, isnt it interesting that the above letter/commentary was posted to the sherriffs Facebook page on April 8, 2010 at 8: 08 am, about four days before Brad McClains death? Was the letter a warning? A coded threat? If so, for whom? Note the time of the posting to Facebook also: 8 08 am on April 8, 2011. Given that Kellys letter mentions a possible eighth homicide, the timing of the post to facebook ( on the eighth day at 8 08 am) is down right chilling. And, why, within hours of Brad McClains death did the sherriff , on his Facebook page, announce that robbery was a motive in Mc Clains death? Since the sheriffs department responded to a call concerning McClains death at 4 30 pm on April 12, 2011, its doubtful that a thorough investigation could have been completed by 6 49 pm when Kelly made the post to Facebook. So why did Kelly make the post to his Facebook page? More to the point, why did he make it so prematurely? What was the rush tojudgment, or the rush to wind up the case so quickly? Damage control maybe? Cover up? Why, in fact, did the sherriff issue ANY information as relates to McClains death while the matter was still under investigation? Again, damage control? Cover up? Surely the sherriff knew McClain was a ‘person of interest’ in the Terris Ross case, everyone else did! Or is this another piece of information that the sherriff was unaware of-- The other being his stepsons drug trafficking? Personally, it seems highly doubtful that robbery was a motive in McClains death, but even if it were a motive, the sherriiffs facebook post announcing a motive for the murder at 6 49 pm, was not only premature, it was unethical , inappropriate and hints of a massive cover up. Oh, and by the way sherriff, there's been more than seven drug related homicides in Athens County, some of them just havent been classified as such.
Time to put the bong down, Hooterville.
Hotterville, what kind of things do you think they would cover up about McLains death?