the local dope dealer

[Mobuck]

just drove past.
Do I KNOW he's dealing? No, I don't but there's no other reason for this guy to drive past at any/all hours of the night only to return within 15-30 minutes. There's no place one can go and return in that short period-closest town is at least 20 minutes each way. Matching his timeframe with the local pork plant schedules indicates he's meeting someone along the main highway who's going to or getting off work . The only folks working overnight are the maintenance shift and there aren't any females currently working that shift (insider info gathered by Grouch Attack) so this guy isn't dropping off/picking up a spouse who's working.
In addition, the guy drives as if he's somewhat 'impaired'--he periodically runs off the road or misses a curve here or there.
I could follow and watch him but not sure what I would gain from it. It's well known that the newly elected county Sheriff is in the pockets of unspecified drug dealers. Passing the suspicions to him would not be wise.

 

[GasGuzzler]

Probably looking at his phone, waiting for texts from customers. Most pushers don't use their product.

 

[Don Lovel]

Missouri Highway Patrol just loves pulling over idiots so their K9 is not bored....

 

[Mobuck]

Yeah but this is a county gravel road. I haven't seen a SHP vehicle on this road since one newbie trooper got lost 15+ years ago.
My Daughter was the county dispatcher and when the trooper described the location, she called me and asked if there was a SHP car next to my mailbox. ;)
Still, it might be worth a try if the SHP will keep my name out of it.

 

[Busterswoodshop]

Probably looking at his phone, waiting for texts from customers. Most pushers don't use their product.

Never get high on your own supply.

 

[Dan in MI]

Never get high on your own supply.

My neighbors kid was a 3 strikes and your out. Some how getting covid erased his strikes. Anyhow, his pattern was get out on parole. Be good for 3-5 months then return to old habits. By 16 months he’d be locked up again.

We could always tell when he about to go back in. He’d start getting 2 minute visitors at all hours for about a week. It’d be quiet for two weeks and repeat til reincarceration. He sold to use until he used too much.

 

[375hh1973]

just drove past.
Do I KNOW he's dealing? No, I don't but there's no other reason for this guy to drive past at any/all hours of the night only to return within 15-30 minutes. There's no place one can go and return in that short period-closest town is at least 20 minutes each way. Matching his timeframe with the local pork plant schedules indicates he's meeting someone along the main highway who's going to or getting off work . The only folks working overnight are the maintenance shift and there aren't any females currently working that shift (insider info gathered by Grouch Attack) so this guy isn't dropping off/picking up a spouse who's working.
In addition, the guy drives as if he's somewhat 'impaired'--he periodically runs off the road or misses a curve here or there.
I could follow and watch him but not sure what I would gain from it. It's well known that the newly elected county Sheriff is in the pockets of unspecified drug dealers. Passing the suspicions to him would not be wise.

 

[375hh1973]

Isn't MJ legal there?

 

[Ale-8(1)]

It's well known that the newly elected county Sheriff is in the pockets of unspecified drug dealers.

Ah . . . rural America. Any local effort to correct this known situation?

 

[Jim Walsh]

Notify the State Police. If the local constabulary has a reputation for incompetence the State Police may already be looking into the matter and a new tip can be just what seals the deal.

 

[Mobuck]

"Ah . . . rural America. Any local effort to correct this known situation?"
Guess not. He was elected last year by a majority of registered voters (living and/or dead). County seat town has over 60% of voters so they decide most/all county issues and employees. Yupper, small town politics are a bummer.
I've decided to present the suspected dope dealer info to a state corrections officer who I know will keep me out of it.

 

[GasGuzzler]

Isn't MJ legal there?

Likely slinging meth not pot.

 

[blume357]

Good luck....

Years ago was down working for a week in St Pete and staying at one of 3 or 4 story motels in town... every 1/2 hour so so someone would open the door to the room above me and walk across the room, stop for a few seconds and then walk back and out the door.... I finally figure it out that the dealer was down in another room and would send someone to the room above me to get what ever had been ordered.

 

[GasGuzzler]

Tampa is such a nice quiet place, huh?

 

[contender]

Not sure if it's possible,, but can you get pictures of the suspected drug dealer as he goes by & create a log of his activity? Pics of his car, the tag, the time he's there,, etc can be a big help if your State friend needs additional info to get someone to actually do something.
Often,, police resources are stretched to where spending the time to gather info & evidence is hard. Having someone else do it,, gives them incentive to do things, AND to be able to reduce the time they need to spend sitting around gathering info.
Plus,, they could then have an officer, "on patrol" during the suspects window of time,, to make a traffic stop.

And before folks here say we shouldn't be having to do their job,, or whatever,, I FULLY agree. It's just that I see how few officers we have to deal with all the stuff out there going on. We've had Defund the Police, reduced numbers of officers all across the country, increases in crime, budgets cut, etc. This just helps them zero in on things. It's just a practical observation of what might help.

 

[Hertervillian]

Not sure if it's possible,, but can you get pictures of the suspected drug dealer as he goes by & create a log of his activity? Pics of his car, the tag, the time he's there,, etc can be a big help if your State friend needs additional info to get someone to actually do something.
Often,, police resources are stretched to where spending the time to gather info & evidence is hard. Having someone else do it,, gives them incentive to do things, AND to be able to reduce the time they need to spend sitting around gathering info.
Plus,, they could then have an officer, "on patrol" during the suspects window of time,, to make a traffic stop.

And before folks here say we shouldn't be having to do their job,, or whatever,, I FULLY agree. It's just that I see how few officers we have to deal with all the stuff out there going on. We've had Defund the Police, reduced numbers of officers all across the country, increases in crime, budgets cut, etc. This just helps them zero in on things. It's just a practical observation of what might help.

Doing their job… it could be argued they have been hired to help do our job. Expecting 1 person to keep track of thousands while covering a few hundred sq miles is a bit much.

One more voice expressing concern might be what is needed to warrant an investigation. I live in what I consider a pretty good neighborhood, however in the past 20yrs 2 houses have been raided and the drug dealing miscreants convicted. One dude thought he was still living in S. St Paul, the other very low flying. What stood out to me was the impressive displays of toys, by someone who had no visible means of employment.

My local Karen actually keeps this stuff policed very well, I do appreciate her vigilance as I’m gone quite often.

 

[Yaworski]

I wouldn't worry about it unless it was impacting me directly.

 

[kmoore]

I think others said some of this. But my take, if you can establish a small window of time of when and where. The license plate and or general description of the vehicle and driver. The more correct information the better, guessing is not worth anything. Call the state police, if you don't know the district guys, talk to a Sgt. or Lt. that will have a name of a troop that will help. Once you establish enough information that someone can follow up on. Call right away don't sit on the information. For any number of reasons patterns of dope dealers can change.
The 2 big problems with good people giving me information about suspected criminal activity was timely and details. Timely means not more than a few days and in some cases hours or minutes. Details means exact house, license plate/ vehicle details. Suspects looks, hair, physical size, sex, race.
Here's what I got many times: 2 weeks ago, a red ford pickup slowly drove up and down the road several times all afternoon. He must have been looking for a dope dealer. When I ask further, no other intel was learned.
In a large city/metro area how good is that type of information to follow up on? Not much. What good cops will do write down what they get, maybe they will see something in the area similar and have a chance to conduct a traffic stop.

 

[Joe Reilly]

I wouldn't worry about it unless it was impacting me directly.

Kinda like when you need an ambulance and they are all administering Narcan to repeat calls?

 

[Yaworski]

Kinda like when you need an ambulance and they are all administering Narcan to repeat calls?

Meh.

No evidence that he's dealing drugs other than he drives down a road. Wow!

 

[Dan in MI]

I wouldn't worry about it unless it was impacting me directly.

The problem is it is affecting you long before you realize it is affecting you. You never know who is scoping out the neighborhood for some easy cash.

 

[Yaworski]

The problem is it is affecting you long before you realize it is affecting you. You never know who is scoping out the neighborhood for some easy cash.

For all I know, Charles Lytton, John Robie, and Al Mundy are checking out my house. I'm still not going to worry about a neighbor who drives by frequently at what you think are odd times.

 

[JiminMaine]

I have a similar situation near me. I live in a rural area 1/4 of a mile from a carry-in boat launch. I walk daily and go past it. Every couple of days a particular vehicle will go past my house and pull into the parking lot at the launch. He always backs into the same spot in the back corner of the lot. Within the next 15 minutes three well known drug users will drive past my house, pull into the lot and come back out in under 3 minutes. If I walk past while he is parked there I will see cars come from the other direction and pull in and leave in a short time. His arrival time varies, but the other cars always arrive just after he does. He only stays for 30-45 minutes each time.

 

[bobski]

youre too close to st louie.
they all want the city out there and consider you just an extension of the burbs.

 

[blume357]

This discussion reminds me of one of the biggest and most hypocritical ironies of all time... We are constantly talking about the evil drug cartels and how we need to fight and stop them... and not one person points out the only reason these cartels are so powerful is because 'We' Americans are buying their drugs!

 

[Yaworski]

and not one person points out the only reason these cartels are so powerful is because 'We' Americans are buying their drugs!

Sadly, the millions of dollars spent on "drug education" have little effect. Data shows that "DARE" it totally useless are reducing drug and alcohol abuse.

 

[eveled]

Sadly, the millions of dollars spent on "drug education" have little effect. Data shows that "DARE" it totally useless are reducing drug and alcohol abuse.

"DARE" is how kids learn about drugs.

Drugs are destroying our society. I have to take a drug test to work.

Make drug testing mandatory across the board. Offer help, then offer punishment.

 

[Mobuck]

Put drug dealers on the same level as coyotes. :censored:

 

[Busterswoodshop]

"DARE" is how kids learn about drugs.

Drugs are destroying our society. I have to take a drug test to work.

Make drug testing mandatory across the board. Offer help, then offer punishment.

I have never had a drug test.
I always wondered , are they multiple choice , true /false or essays answers ?
Do they give you time to study ?

 

[contender]

"No evidence that he's dealing drugs other than he drives down a road."

Fair enough thought.

However,, if you live in a rural area,, and know the "locals" enough,, you know when a stranger or strange vehicle is around. In this day & age,, with the fact that drug dealing, or theft is more & more common you can no longer assume it's nothing when a strange vehicle is seen in a manner that isn't normal, in an area that the vehicle isn't local.

Case in point.

Where I live,, we all pretty much know who is normally around our area. We are neighbors,, yet, our homes are not right on top of one another. There used to be a thieving, drug dealing, family that lived about a mile down my road. Well, drugs killed 2 of the 3 of them. The 3rd one,, has calmed down a lot since then. Yet,, he still has the occasional suspected potentially "bad" characters there.
But we have a particular convicted dealer, thief, and in general bad person who used to ride his moped through here. He doesn't live here,, (and yes,, we do know where he lives,) and he doesn't work, or anything. He's been arrested & jailed several times. well known to the local LEO's. he once tried to sell drugs to a woman & her (2) girls right across the street from me. Daddy came out & was about to get physical. I went over,, and I had a very stern "Come to Jesus" discussion with him. Of course,, he tried to claim innocence at first,, but I quietly told him; "You know who I am,, and you know I don't play games. You don't live here, you don't have relatives here, you don't even have friends here in this area. I don't want to see you around here anymore. And, I will get my LEO son to assure we get a lot more patrols here, JUST to catch YOU!!!!"

He was caught stealing from a neighbor because of the increased patrols, AND the fact we were vigilant in reporting his appearance to the cops.

He stayed away for over a year. (Part of that he was in jail for a few months.) Then I saw him again. This time I stopped him, and told him I had him on camera,, and that I KNEW what he was doing. That time,, my warning to him must have worked,, as he's not been back around our area since.

Situational awareness is not just watching out for direct confrontations,, it's also about being aware of everything around your neighborhood.

So, gathering info, getting it to the local or state LEO's for them to look into is a good thing when you are aware of something that's not normal in an area.

Besides,, if a person is legit,, and gets checked out,, they should have no worries & be glad the LEO's are being vigilant in patrolling an area.