In Baltimore, allegations of police doing less as drugs are rampant
Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony Batts is asking for federal help to fight an uptick in crime in his city -- an increase he largely attributes to looted drugs that have made their way to the streets of Baltimore.
At least 27 pharmacies and drug clinics were looted during riots after the April death of Freddie Gray, much more than previously reported, and as much as 175,000 units of dosage narcotics are now on the street, he said.
That's "enough narcotics on the streets of Baltimore to keep it intoxicated for a year," he said. "That amount of drugs has thrown off the balance on the streets of Baltimore."
His comments come as turmoil continues to grip the city less than two months after Gray died from a spinal injury while in police custody. Six Baltimore police officers have been charged in Gray's death.
There were 42 homicides in the city in May, the deadliest month since 1972.
Authorities expect the number of doses on the streets will be higher, because not all pharmacies have accounted for the missing narcotics, according to a law enforcement official. Some of the drugs looted include fentanyl, oxycodone, amphetamines, Adderall, hydrocodone, morphine and tramadol.
"Criminals are selling those stolen drugs," Batts said. "There are turf wars happening which are leading to violence and shootings in our city."
City Council member Carl Stokes said Thursday he does not entirely agree that the crime in Baltimore can be blamed on the proliferation of drug dealing.
"It is not simply a matter of more prescription drugs on the streets," he said. "Baltimore has always had a very high homicide rate for many years."
The law enforcement official agreed, telling CNN that while some of the violence is a byproduct of the looting, it is by no means all-inclusive.
Two members of the Bloods gang in Baltimore told CNN they are being unfairly blamed by police for the violence.
"What they're trying to do is take the fire and heat off of them," said one gang member, who goes by Bones.
Stokes said the problem is more complex.
"There's more opportunity for the criminals in this city to do what they're doing because leadership is failing and, frankly, because the Fraternal Order of Police -- if they didn't order it they have given some, again, not an order, but to say to their rank and file you don't have to work as hard as you should be working, you don't have to live up to your oath to serve and protect. ... I think we have a horrible situation going on in this town," Stokes said.
link for full article...
http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/04/us/baltimore-drugs-violence/
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