Addiction World

Valium, was previously known for ‘ anaesthetising a generation of British housewives’ in the 1960s and 70s. Now young people and drug addicts are taking it illegally alongside alcohol to ease withdrawal from other drugs. DrugScope, which said usage was rising in 15 out of 20 towns it surveyed, added it may also be used as a cheap alternative to heroin. Diazepam, nicknamed ‘blues’ or ‘vallies’, is available for as little as £1 a pill. In Valium’s heyday in the 1960s and 70s, it was prescribed in vast quantities by GPs. It is still prescribed in far smaller numbers for anxiety disorders, alcohol withdrawal symptoms or muscle spasms. But the illegal drugs are being brought in from other European countries where it is readily available. Many of the smugglers are holidaymakers returning from France, Spain and Portugal. Police and Customs seizures of diazepam have rocketed from 300,000 pills in the three years to June 2006 to two million in the two years since, DrugScope said. Long-term use is associated with mental health problems including forgetfulness, depression and agoraphobia. DrugScope’s chief executive Martin Barnes said: ‘The rise in the use of illicitly imported diazepam is concerning, particularly as drug users face a high risk of overdose when using the drug in combination with other drugs such as methadone and alcohol.’ Drugscope’s annual survey of substance use also found that the veterinary tranquilliser ketamine, which has been growing in popularity on the drug scene for several years, is now £20 a gram compared with £28 two years ago.

Hollywood actress Mischa Barton has revealed that she secretly checked into rehab after pleading guilty for drunken driving in 2007.The former ‘O. C.’ actress said that she punished herself by locking herself at an unnamed rehab after being arrested on suspicion of DUI in December.She was sentenced to 36 months on probation, alcohol education classes and a fine after pleading guilty to charges earlier this year."I wanted to prove to the court that I would take it completely seriously, so I went to rehab to prove I was sober,” Contactmusic quoted Barton, as saying."It really helped in getting the more serious aspects of my case dropped because, you know, that''s what they want to hear; you''re not an alcoholic and you don''t have a problem.“So I did it in the most low-key way possible - I didn''t make a fuss about it and I didn''t tell a lot of my friends, I just did the program and got through it," she said.She added: “The actress stated that she was disappointed in herself for her wrong doing and putting life in danger due to her reckless driving."The thing is, I hate drunk drivers, living in L. A., I can''t stand them, and that''s why I was so disappointed in myself, it’s so not worth it when you put other lives at risk," she said. (ANI)

Young men who die suddenly after being arrested by the police may be victims of a new syndrome similar to one that kills some wild animals when they are captured, Spanish researchers said on Tuesday.Manuel Martinez Selles of Madrid's Hospital Gregorio Maranon reached the conclusion after investigating 60 cases of sudden unexplained deaths in Spain following police detention.
In one third of the cases, death occurred at the point of arrest, while in the remainder death was within 24 hours, Selles told the annual meeting of the European Society of Cardiology.All but one of the casualties were male and their average age was just 33 years, with no previous history of cardiovascular disease.
"Something unusual is going on," Sells said.
Just why they died remains a mystery but he believes young men, in particular, may experience surges in blood levels of chemicals known as catecholamines when under severe stress.Adrenaline is one of the most abundant catecholamines.
"We know that when a wild animal is captured, sometimes the animal dies suddenly," he said."Probably when these young males are captured it is very stressful and their level of catecholamines goes very high and that can finish their life by ventricular fibrillation (cardiac arrest)."Selles compiled his study -- the first of its kind in any country -- by scouring Spanish newspapers for cases of unexplained death after police detention over the past 10 years.Only sudden deaths with no clear causes were included and autopsy reports were checked to exclude the possibility of mistreatment or past serious medical conditions.Twelve of the victims were drug users but Selles said this was not thought to have contributed to their deaths.
Jonathan Halperin of the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, who was not involved in the research, said the concept of a heart stress syndrome triggered by a flood of adrenaline or other chemicals was "a reasonable hypothesis."
"We all know stress is bad for you and this may be stress in the extreme," he said.

extradition hearing for DMX in Miami on August 26 could have gone better. He appeared before Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Lawrence Schwartz, hoping to be released on bond and ordered back to Arizona, where he faces multiple charges drug and paraphernalia possession.
However, as in a previous decision, Schawrtz decided to uphold the no bond status attached to a bench warrant issued for the rapper's arrest on August 12. The judge's decision means that X will have to remain in custody in South Florida, for at least one more month.With the decision handed down, DMX was heard to say "I ain't going back to no f***ing jail" as he walked away from the podium, a statement which did not sit well with the court."Oh, well that just ingratiated you to me," Schwartz replied before issuing a warning to X's lawyer, Charles Kozelka.
DMX was arrested at a North Miami Beach Wal-Mart store on August 14, just three days after missing a court appearance in Phoenix. He was set to go on trial for four counts of possessing drug paraphernalia and one count of possession of marijuana.
At the time of his arrest, Kozelka told the courts that he had missed the Phoenix appearance because he had checked into a Miami hospital, as a preliminary step to entering a drug rehab program.You're insane if you haven't seen this coming from a mile away but really, I think it's for his own good. If he's in jail, he can't do any further damage to himself or others, unless he decides to ‘keep it real' or something.In a somewhat more amusing piece, DMX is going to be starring in a reality TV show about, what else, his legal problems.
The show is going to be titled DMX: This Life of Mine and will follow DMX's attempt to resolve a string of legal problems, which include six arrests since May of 2008.
This Life of Mine will also feature DMX attempting to rehabilitate to himself, as he simultaneously attempts to avoid being sent to prison for pending charges of possessing drug paraphernalia, possessing marijuana, animal cruelty charges and theft, for allegedly giving a fake name when he was treated at a Scottsdale hospital earlier this year."In many ways, my life has been an open book," DMX said in a statement. "[But] I haven't always been the one writing the story. With this show; however, people will get to see and hear with their own eyes and ears what really goes on in my life and I think they'll come to understand me a little bit better with each episode.""When we were approached about doing this show, we knew right away that we wanted to be involved," After Platinum, the company behind the show, CEO Ernie Romero said. "DMX is a complex man and this show will reveal his many sides: the street side and the spiritual side, all rolled up in one." Complex? Uh…bizarre may be a better word.
DMX also believes the show will change the public's perception about him:
"After watching this show, people will come to realize that despite all the stories and all the rumors about me, despite how well they may think they know me, there is another side to DMX that they have never seen and hopefully, it will make people question what they see and hear about me in the future".

Darren Day has been banned from driving for 18 months having admitted to being over the drink-drive limit when he was arrested in June.The actor and singer was apprehended by Cardiff police in the early hours of the morning of June 18th and was taken into custody before being released on bail.And testifying at Cardiff magistrates court on Wednesday, the 40-year-old pleaded guilty to drink-driving.
He had previously denied exceeding the legal alcohol limit and an earlier court hearing had heard that officers had been unable to take a breathalyser sample from Day after arresting him in the Welsh capital's city centre.However, the previous hearing also heard that Day had later provided a positive sample while in custody which revealed that he had 65 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - the legal limit is 35 micrograms.Day, who had been starring in the musical Hello Dolly! alongside former EastEnders actress Anita Dobson at the time off his arrest, was due to stand trial at Cardiff magistrates court on Wednesday morning but arrived without legal representation and entered a guilty plea.
As well as an 18-month ban from driving, District Judge Geraint Watkins also fined The I'm A Celebrity… star £700.Famed for his colourful love life - having dated and broken up with Anna Friel, Isla Fisher and Dancing On Ice winner Suzanne Shaw, with whom he has a son, Corey - Day recently gave an interview claiming to have reformed since his marriage in 2007."Life's very different for me now to what it was. I've landed on my feet really," he told the Western Mail newspaper."I married this wonderful lady and it's changed my life. She's pretty much 100 per cent responsible for changing my life around and my children have been inspirational too - life's fantastic.

Marion "Suge" Knight was jailed today on assault and drug charges after he was accused of beating his girlfriend while brandishing a knife near the Las Vegas Strip, police said. Suge posted $19,000 bail and was scheduled to be released late today with a promise to appear Sept. 26 in Las Vegas Justice Court, a court spokeswoman said.Police said the founder of the bankrupt Death Row Records was arrested about 6:40 a.m. after officers arrived at the scene of a minor traffic accident and found Knight hitting a woman in a parking lot off a busy thoroughfare.
"A citizen sees the beating in a parking lot, police get there fast, they see him beating her. It's a good solid case," said Las Vegas police Lt. Chris Carroll.
The woman was not stabbed but she was treated at a hospital for injuries that Carroll said were not life-threatening. Police did not release the woman's name or age, but said she identified herself as Knight's girlfriend of three years.
"This is a very large man," Carroll said, estimating his weight at more than twice the woman's. "He was on top of her, actually in the act of violently beating her when the officers arrived, with the knife in his hand."At least one officer drew a Taser stun gun as they approached Knight, said Officer Jacinto Rivera, a police spokesman. He said he did not know if the officers drew their handguns.Knight dropped the folding knife and was taken into custody without incident, Carroll said.
He was booked into the Clark County jail on felony charges of assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a controlled substance, and misdemeanor charges of possession of dangerous drugs without a prescription and domestic violence.
Knight had the drugs Ecstasy and hydrocodone when he was arrested, Carroll said, but it was not clear if he or the woman had used drugs or alcohol before the arrest.
Lawyers David Chesnoff and Richard Schonfeld, who are representing Knight, said they wanted to gather information about the arrest and talk with Knight before commenting.
Rivera said Knight and the woman left a Las Vegas strip club, Spearmint Rhino, shortly before the arrest. They were alone in a champagne-colored Cadillac Escalade.
Police said Knight and the woman argued in the vehicle while Knight was driving before he allegedly punched her in the head.
"The victim purposely grabbed the steering wheel and caused the vehicle to hit the curb," police said in a statement. Police said the woman tried to run away, but Knight caught her.Knight has a history of legal problems, he was convicted of assault in 1992 and placed on probation, then jailed for five years in 1996 for violating that probation.
He returned to jail in 2003 for again violating parole for punching a parking attendant at a Hollywood nightclub. He was released the next year. Knight was wounded during a shooting at a party in a Miami nightclub in August 2005.
Seems to me like Mr.Knight has some anger issues, but that's just my opinion!!

Shouldn't people know by now drugs are not allowed on planes, and any attempts to smuggle some will have them arrested? It turns out 48-year-old actress Mackenzie Phillips, best known for her role on the sitcom "One Day A Time" over 20 years ago doesn't know any better and she was busted for possession of cocaine and heroin at Los Angeles International Airport on Wednesday morning. She was taken into custody after security found the drugs in her carry on luggage.According to TMZ, Phillips, who is the daughter of The Mamas and the Papas lead singer, John Phillips, had her stuff screened by TSA and the officers recovered some baggies and balloons believed to contain heroin and cocaine. "During a second screening process, a small amount of what was believed to be heroin and cocaine was discovered on her person," Sgt. Jim Holcomb, spokesman for Los Angeles Airport Police, told E! News.
"She is being booked at Pacific Division and then transferred to Van Nuys," added Holcomb. "Bail has not been set."The actress was exposed to drugs from a very early age and has a long history of drug abuse. As a kid, she said she prepared joints for her late father.
"I grew up in mansions, but everything was dirty and broken," she told USA Weekend magazine in 1999. "Very little was going on inside except sex, drugs and rock and roll."Early on, she knew she had a problem."The first time I had a drink, it woke up the sleeping monster inside me," she said.According to NNDB, the actress, who is also the half-sister of Chynna Phillips and Bijou Phillips, was fired from "One Day at a Time" on two separate occasions after she was late to work and so drunk or stoned she could not function. The first suspension was for a season in 1980. They welcomed her back in 1981 once she got clean, but she fell off the wagon and once again lost her job a couple years later.In 1994, she turned her life around, appearing as a drug counselor on "90210." A few years later, she also starred on Disney show "So Weird," saying the network's producers, "embraced [her] baggage."
"Why did I survive?" she asked in USA Weekend. "Maybe it's to say to others, 'This happened to me. It could happen to you.' I don't mind being a poster girl."Mackenzie must be in a really bad place if she is bringing drugs in her hand luggage. Maybe this arrest will be the motivation she needs to clean up. She has been in rehab a few times and nothing really worked long term for her. At 48, she is looking at an early death if she keeps using.

Russian wrestler Wakanoho was banned for life by the Japan Sumo Association on Thursday after being arrested earlier this week on suspicion of possessing marijuana.
Wakanoho, whose real name is Soslan Aleksandrovich Gagloev, was taken into custody on Monday after police officers found a marijuana cigarette in a wallet he lost in Tokyo in June.Someone found the wallet and handed it to police, who traced it to the 357-pound wrestler because of an identification card inside.Wakanoho told police he had received the marijuana from a foreigner in Roppongi - a Tokyo district famous for its bars, clubs and raucous nightlife.Wakanoho's ban - the first handed to an active wrestler in sumo's long history - was announced after an emergency meeting of the JSA executive board.Under Japan's Cannabis Control Law, possession of marijuana is punishable by up to five years in prison with forced labour. Foreigners convicted of drugs crimes can also be deported from Japan and slapped with a lifetime re-entry ban.It was unclear how prosecutors planned to proceed with the case. Wakanoho turned 20 on July 8 and was legally a minor at the time of the alleged violation
After his professional debut in March 2005, Wakanoho powered his way up the ranks, reaching the top sumo division in a little over two and a half years. He was one of 15 foreign wrestlers in the highest "makuuchi" level, along with Mongolian grand champions Asashoryu and Hakuho.His fiery temper has often overshadowed his talent. In May, the JSA reprimanded the Russian for smashing a shelf in the wrestlers' communal bathroom following a defeat.He is not the first foreign wrestler to get into trouble in Japan's ancient sport.

There are 40 guests currently lodged at the City of Rest. Nine of them are females. The males occupy the ground floor, six or eight to a room with bunk beds. The females share one big room- big enough to accommodate nine guests- and a parlor upstairs. They are entitled to three meals a day- breakfast, lunch and dinner. For recreation they have access to a television, table tennis, volleyball, chess and draught. And it does not cost the guests a penny! This place is more than a city of rest; it is a Five Star Hotel for those who cannot afford

He is chained on the feet and his upper body is trapped in the naked frame of a metal chair. He has bruises on his face, looks dizzy and is clumsily dressed. Thefirst image that comes to my mind is a convicted hardened criminal on death row, but Chernoh is only a guest at the City of Rest - an unassuming two-storey counseling and rehabilitation center, which looks more like a dwelling house, located at No. 34 Fort Street, Freetown. Chernoh was brought to the healing center by his parents. He is suffering from drug addiction. His movement is restricted- with the chain and metal chair - because he is a relatively new guest. "When they are brought in we have to restrict their mobility because they often respond violently to their new environment," said Mr Kabie Fornah, Supervisor of the guests. "But after about two weeks they adapt, and they become less violent. That’s when we take off the chains." Fornah denies seizing the freedom of his guests. "We are not seizing their freedom. If we leave them on their own they will run away. This place does not have a fence..." he says.Fornah is more or less regarded as the City Father because he is directly involved with the guests. He ensures they stay within limits and follow laid down daily routine. Himself a drug abuser for about 20 years before he get to know Jesus Christ, Fornah knows what it means when someone is into drugs, and his experience of nine years working at the center all the more matters. "They need constant attention. They need that care, love and compassion. They need encouragement… and love," he says. 90% of the guests at City of Rest are drug related cases, says Director of the Center Rev. Morie S. Ngobeh - a fragile-looking old man. The general history, he says, is drug addiction especially with cocaine, heroine and marijuana. However, there are other cases of mental disorder, demonic attacks and traumas. "Drug abuse is on the rise in Sierra Leone, affecting the lives of our young people," says Pastor Ngobeh, as he is called for short.
"Among the causes is the increase of drug trafficking activities in West Africa. More and more, Sierra Leone is serving as a transit point for drugs smuggling into Europe and the USA."
Last month about 700 kilograms of cocaine was discovered inside an abandoned light aircraft which illegally landed at the Lungi International Airport, Lungi. Before that a string of drug arrests have been made over the years and Airport authorities say there is a steady increase in drug smuggling through the International gateway.
But, somehow, a good quantity of the cocaine that is supposed to be smuggled into Europe find its way into small drug dens called potes scattered across the country.
"Almost every street in Freetown has a pote and the stock-in-trade has moved mainly from marijuana to cocaine and a related substance called brown-brown," says Fornah. He says government must take strong action against the local drug trade to secure the future of its youths. Similarly, Pastor Ngobeh calls for a united approach to tackle what he describes as ‘two big monsters’- drug abuse and alcoholism. He suggests a ban on alcohol and cigarette advertisement on national television.
"When young people see these ads," he says, "they develop the urge to experiment what they have seen." However, Pastor Ngobeh’s center is not involved in drugs abuse prevention; it heals the victims and sends them back to society to live a normal life. Hundreds of drug/demonic/trauma victims have passed through the center since it was officially opened in 1996 and many have come back to give testimony and help the center in some ways. In fact most of the volunteer staff were once guests of the center."They (guests) come from everywhere, not just Sierra Leoneans. They come from the sub region-Liberia and The Gambia, Europe- Holland and America," says the reverend.The center relies mainly on prayers and counseling for healing. Guests are medically examined once on admission by consultant psychiatrist, Dr Nahim. The rest of the healing process is left to prayers, deliverance and counseling.
"God does all the healing. We commit them to God through Biblical counseling and we lift their hopes," says Pastor Ngobeh.In its 12 of years of existence, the center has never received support from the Government of Sierra Leone - financial or otherwise. Support comes mainly through donations from gospel ministries, monthly contributions by parents of guests and from some of those who have passed through the center. During my first visit to the center, the Pastor of Flaming Church was there to donate the sum of Le4.5m to what he calls a ‘good cause.’
In addition, the Government of Sierra Leone recently officially allocated 3.2 acres of land at Grafton to the center, and Pastor Ngobeh is convinced construction of a befitting structure will commence this November. And by next year he hopes to move in with his guests and maintain the Fort Street facility for administrative work.
"God will provide the funds," he says.Pastor Ngobeh’s passion for his work is unlikely for a man of his age. At one point he was stabbed on the leg by one of his guests whom he describes as the son of a prominent lawyer. At some other point he was scolded on the neck by another and was only freed by the intervention of some staff. In both instances the pastor’s retaliation was: "I still love you," and he meant it."I love my work," he says. "It is God’s call. My joy is to see them free; free from drugs and from whatever torment."He continues: "This is a place of rest for them. When they come here they get peace and we teach them about God’s plan for them… And they come back to give testimony." At the end of the day the guests go through what is called an Assessment period, during which they are released to visit their homes, spend some time there and return to the center before dusk. If they go through this process successfully, then it means they are ready to go back into society and live like any normal person."We organize a graduation ceremony for them and we give them certificates. We have had guests from all walks of life- lawyers, accountants, students, teachers, sons of Presidents…." says Pastor Ngobeh proudly.

Four students at a school for young people with substance-abuse problems appeared in court last night on gang-assault charges, a felony, in the beating of another student who was left unconscious.Police were called to the Phoenix Academy on Stony Street around 1:30 p.m. Friday after a staff member reported that a client had been assaulted.Several officers and detectives responded and charged Terry V. Rhymer, 20, of the Bronx; Travis Carter, 20, of Brooklyn; and Joshua Richardson, 20, and Olusegun Isijola, 17, both of Queens, with second-degree gang assault, police said.
The injured student was treated at Hudson Valley Hospital Center in Cortlandt.
Phoenix Academy is a partnership between Phoenix House and the New York City Department of Education.The suspects were being held without bail at the Westchester County jail in Valhalla.Last night, the four appeared before Judge David Zuckerman, who, for at least two of the men, approved their lawyers' request to continue the case to tomorrow, when a felony hearing will be held. The court dates for the other two were not immediately available last night.

Convicted Australian drug smuggler Schapelle Corby has had three months cut from her 20-year sentence as part of Indonesia's independence day celebrations, an official says.Bali Nine heroin mule Renae Lawrence also had her sentence cut by four months as part of the celebrations, Yon Suharyono told reporters.“Corby officially gets today, on Indonesia's Independence Day, a three-month cut off her sentence,” said Suharyono, the head of Bali's Kerobokan jail where Corby is being held.
He said it was the second time authorities had cut the 31-year-old's sentence. It was reduced by three months in 2006.With today's remission, Corby is expected to be freed by April 12, 2024, he added.The former beauty therapist was found guilty in 2005 of trafficking 4.1 kilograms of marijuana to Indonesia.
She has always maintained she is innocent.Corby - who has struggled with depression since her final appeal was rejected in March, when Indonesia's Supreme Court upheld her 20-year term - missed out on a sentence cut twice last year because a mobile phone was found in her cell.Meanwhile Lawrence, the only female member of the so-called Bali Nine ring of Australian heroin traffickers, received a four-month cut from her 20-year sentence, Suharyono said.Indonesia grants sentence cuts of up to six months, twice a year - once to mark Independence Day and another to mark major religious holidays according to a convict's faith.

Craig Phillip Robinson, who plays Darryl Philbin on the NBC show, was arrested on 29 June on suspicion of possessing MDMA, also known as ecstasy, and methamphetamine.
He was released on bail the same day, however Los Angeles County prosecutors have charged him with two felony counts of drug possession and one count of being under the influence of illegal drugs.The 36-year-old is due to appear in court on 21 August. His publicist declined to comment on the charges over the weekend.
Robinson also appears in the comedy film 'Pineapple Express', which is due to be released in Ireland next month.

Trustees of Mentor UK, which works to help children to steer clear of drugs, are so concerned at the publicity surrounding the case that they will decide next month whether Mrs Rausing should remain as their patron. The move will cause huge embarrassment to the Swedish dynasty, since Mentor UK is part of an international drugs foundation established by Queen Silvia of Sweden in 1994.
Eva Rausing, who along with her husband Hans – heir to the multibillion-pound Tetra Pak fortune – escaped with a conditional caution last week for possession of class-A drugs, faces being dumped by a British drugs charity that she helped to set up.
Eric Carlin, the charity's chief executive, said: "Obviously we are concerned about anything that's going to be problematic for the charity. As things stand she remains a patron, but we're having a trustees' meeting on 3 September and this will be on the agenda."In contrast, Mrs Rausing's role as trustee of the Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment is set to continue. This follows a robust defence mounted by Prince Charles last week when he insisted that she deserved a "second chance".
The couple were arrested in April after Mrs Rausing was found with heroin and crack cocaine in her handbag at a party at the US embassy in London. A police search of the couple's £5m Georgian townhouse in Chelsea uncovered a £2,000 stash of crack, heroin and cocaine.The pair had first met at a drug rehabilitation clinic in the US 25 years ago and have given vast sums to addiction charities over many years. But although rumours had persisted about the couple's continued drug-taking, it was only after their arrest earlier this year that it became public that both were addicted to crack and heroin. Shortly after her arrest, Mrs Rausing, the daughter of a senior Pepsi-Cola executive, said, "I intend to seek the help that I very much need," adding, "I am ashamed of my actions."But the sentiment has not prevented the police from publicly attacking the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) over its controversial decision to let the rich couple off with a conditional caution. A spokeswoman for the Police Federation for England and Wales said yesterday: "Cases such as these highlight that there are intrinsic weaknesses in the CPS. It is not only frustrating for police who detect and arrest crimes and criminals to then see sentencing and bail conditions undermine offences, but soft sentencing for cases can send confusing messages to the public."And Peter Smyth, chair of the Metropolitan Police Federation, claimed: "If that had been an ordinary couple from a council estate, they would have received a far greater sanction."Sir Ian Blair, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, is writing to the Office of Criminal Justice Reform this week to outline his concerns about the use of conditional cautions for drug offences. But Dru Sharpling, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS London, insisted: "The policy and practice surrounding conditional cautions is applied consistently to both rich and poor." Under the terms of the caution, the couple will spend the next four months in a drug rehabilitation programme and submit to drug tests.
A statement from the Rausing family said: "We hope with all our hearts that Hans and Eva can overcome their addiction and we continue to do what we can to help." A spokesperson for Tetra Pak said: "There will be no comment on a private family matter."
While the couple are now receiving treatment for their drug problems, Mr Rausing remains under scrutiny by police, with inquiries continuing into allegations that he drove off after his Audi Quattro was involved in an accident in London in June.

In the basement of an Omaha home, a narcotics investigator pushed a chest of drawers away from a wood-paneled wall and found a door — and way more than he expected.
You never know what household item might be pressed into service as a place to hide illegal drugs, as law enforcement officials have learned over the years. Among such stashes are a soft drink can with a false bottom.Behind the wall was a secret room where drugs were stashed — along with the drug dealer's girlfriend.
The illicit lair had a bed, clothes, toiletries and bottles of urine. The dealer apparently let out his girlfriend when his wife was at work, said retired Omaha Police Sgt. Mark Langan."He had worse trouble trying to explain that to his wife than trying to explain what he had in his house to us," Langan said.
With cases such as that, Nebraska and Iowa investigators weren't surprised at recent news about drugs being smuggled in hidden compartments on trains. Union Pacific is challenging $38 million in federal fines after the Border Patrol repeatedly found drugs hidden in railcars.The places where drug dealers and users hide their wares is limited only by their imaginations, area officers say.
"These people have a lot of time to think of stuff like this," said Sheriff Steven MacDonald in Fremont County, Iowa.Cops searching cars find secret compartments that seem straight out of a spy movie."The electronics to get into these false compartments is just ingenious," said Mark Overman, a Scottsbluff police detective. "Step on the brake, tune the radio to a certain station and then activate the brake lights — that might kick the compartment open."
Area cops find drugs in cars in a variety of places: inside seats, tires, gas tanks, lights and hollowed car batteries.One drug ring cut open drive shafts, inserted plastic pipes filled with drugs and welded the shafts shut, Overman said.
Another dealer tried to blend in with the locals by using a horse trailer to haul horses — and 100 pounds of marijuana under the trailer's false floor, Overman said.
Animals were a distraction in the most unusual case recalled by a Nebraska National Guard counterdrug team leader. A man hid his methamphetamine in the bottom of his pet snakes' tank.In homes, detectives find drugs inside air ducts, in safes under carpeted floors, inside TV sets and wrapped like meat in the freezer. They see false bottoms on cans that look like they would contain pop, hair spray and Pennzoil.
State troopers recently found cocaine underneath chips in a canister of Pringles, Nebraska State Patrol Lt. Scott Kracl said.Suspects sometimes unintentionally give cops a helping hand.Omaha police once opened an address book and found a list titled "Hidden cocaine locations." Ajax can. Butter drawer. Shirt pocket.
Yes, it was correct.In another case, detectives noticed a dirty shovel in the basement, which had a dirt floor, near a spot that looked like it had been recently refilled. A little underground sleuthing netted 10 pounds of meth.
Dealers frequently bury their treasure. "You can get out on a county road, you can look around and see no one's coming," Overman said. "You go out and bury it by a road sign."
The saddest spots are drugs hidden around young children: in car seats, diaper bags, even clothes or diapers children were wearing.Some people conceal drugs in, um, their own hidden compartment. "We'd run up on people and see them put their hands in their pants," Langan said.A few times a year, Omaha police get court orders to have medical professionals search suspects' bodies.
The biggest find: A female dealer hiding 17 grams of crack cocaine, about half the size of a golf ball.Suspects sometimes swallow the goods.
Omaha police get a court order to pump a stomach when a suspect's life may be in danger. If not, they wait until what went in comes out.Langan said, laughing: "Anyone who thought being a narcotics officer was a glamorous job . . . "Of course, a few suspects don't bother to hide much.
Sheriff MacDonald recalled stopping a 1966 turquoise Chevy Impala that was going 104 mph.
"The passenger's sitting over there in this lethargic la-la land," he said. He and the driver were so high, "neither of them knew if they were sitting or on horseback."
On the back seat was an open duffel bag, stuffed with money.
The driver, slowly stringing together words, asked, "What's the problem, officer?"
"He has a needle hanging out of his vein, tourniquet still on his arm," MacDonald said, still incredulous. "I'm thinking 'That could be the problem.' "

The attraction of drugs for some is just too powerful to resist and even more so when you are in a relationship where both people are users (abusers). Drugs and celebrities is not a unique phenomenon in that it is restricted to Indonesia, it can be found throughout the world of celebrities. Yet, it is sad that Indonesia's younger celebrities are increasingly getting caught up in the world of drugs. The recent arrest of a young rising star, Sheila Marcia (photo), highlights the dangers of letting your demons get the better of you. Sheila Marcia had been making a bit of a name for herself in Indonesian horror films, such as Manggarai Ghost Train (Kereta Hantu Manggarai).Sheila Marcia was arrested last week allegedly at a drug party in North Jakarta. The party was being held in the Golden Sky Apartment complex in Pluit in room number 8 on the 7th floor. This is the beauty of Indonesia where the information is always available in the scandal pages. I wonder how anyone ever keeps a secret in this part of the world.
Unfortunately, her boyfriend, Roger Danuarta, has gone to ground. It has been suggested that he is in drug rehab. However, this has been denied by his family. Roger is also a celebrity for his Indonesia soap opera appearances. Nevertheless, the going to ground is probably a smart move on his part because if he is using the police will find out. I am sure that this is small comfort to his young girlfriend who could probably do with some support from her man.
However, standard police practice in Indonesia with regards to drug allegations is to do a urine test. He is sure to take some flack for this as he probably will not be paying a visit to his girlfriend anytime soon or at least until any drugs that he has been taking have cleared the system. Although the police have said that they are not looking for him in relation to this case.The sad part here is that Sheila is only 19 years old. The good thing here is that she is only 19 years old. If she wants to she should be able to recover from this and still have a career. It is being reported that over the last week in detention she has come closer to God. This is always a good ploy but if she really believed in God she probably should have considered getting a little closer a little sooner.
In Australia this offence would probably attract no jail time and perhaps a slap on the wrist in the form of a community service order. As a young starlet she could do a lot of good educating other youngsters about the dangers of drugs and the impact that it can have on your life and the lives of those around you.Then again, it is Indonesia. I wonder how much jail time she will get?

SHOCK new figures reveal drug deaths in the Falkirk area are spiralling.
Last year, 15 lives were lost, a rise of 50 per cent on the previous 12 months.Despite high-profile operations by Central Scotland Police to crack down on dealers – £2 million-worth of drugs were taken off the streets in 2007-08 – the human cost of addiction continues to rise.Now an MSP has called for everyone to work together to tackle the problem.Cathy Peattie said: "There has to be a joined up approach across all services if we are going to do something about this."And let's be quite clear, it isn't just affecting one group, it's all sections of society which are affected. It's a terrible situation and we need to do something now."
The grim statistics were revealed in a report by the Registrar General for Scotland which analysed drug-related deaths across the country.
Across Scotland there were 455 deaths through drugs in 2007, an eight per cent rise on the previous year and 103 per cent more than in 1997.Forth Valley had one of the highest increases in deaths through drug misuse.Last year, there were 26 fatalities, a rise of two from 2006 but compared to just four in 1997.The Falkirk Council figures show deaths had been rising steadily from 2003 but jumped from 10 to 15 last year. A decade ago there were no drug-related deaths in this area.Eight people died after taking heroin or morphine, two from methadone, three from diazepam and six through alcohol abuse.Admitting drugs remain readily available in communities, Central Scotland Police chief constable Andrew Cameron said his officers had worked hard to dismantle and disrupt supply networks.Highlighting the £2 million of seizures, he paid tribute to communities "which have decided they will not tolerate this activity on their doorsteps and have given information which has led to this quite incredible quantity of drugs being taken out of circulation".
Mr Cameron said: "We arrest drug dealers and work with partners to really try and raise awareness of the dangers of drugs. We are keen to ensure that young people make choices around this issue and are fully aware of the devastating impact it can have on family life."The Falkirk East MSP also stressed that drugs don't just affect those misusing the substances but also their family and friends.Mrs Peattie said: "It's heartbreaking to listen to parents tell of how they've tried to get support because they're desperate to do whatever they can for their bairns.
"These figures clearly show drug deaths are on the increase. The police are doing a smashing job tackling the dealers but we need to do more to ensure that no more young people's lives are lost or wasted."We need all agencies working together to tackle this. The time people are having to wait for treatment and follow-up support – which needs to be longer than a couple of months – is currently too long. Those at risk need to be identified and action taken much quicker if we are to get results and drive down these figures."The local authority is also involved in the war on drugs. Fiona Campbell, head of policy and performance review, said: "Substance misuse can have devastating consequences resulting in real tragedy for families involved."Falkirk Council looks to ensure the delivery of services for substance misusers and their families by our leading role in the Falkirk
Substance Action Team. This includes the provision of a tiered approach from basic information and education to intensive rehabilitation therapy.
"Addressing the issues of substance misuse is a priority for elected members and the council."

Traces of cocaine were found in the body of a renowned ultra-Orthodox philanthropist who was killed in a car accident six months ago, according to an investigation carried out by British police. Benzion Dunner, 45, a father of nine from the wealthy North London neighborhood of Golders Green, had apparently been under the influence of the drug when he decided to drive two of his sons and a family friend to a holiday home in Bournemouth, in the south of England. The circumstances leading up to the accident remained mysterious until newspapers in Britain this week reported the results of an inquest into the crash.
The investigation found that Dunner, who lost control of his Bentley while overtaking another vehicle at 130 km/h, had taken cocaine prior to the incident. Dunner was killed instantly after his car slid down an embankment and ploughed into a tree. His passengers and the two men traveling in the other vehicle escaped with minor injuries. Two days before the accident Dunner threw a Purim party at his London home. His relatives said he was "writing checks until 4 in the morning," that amounted to more than 2 million pounds. His funeral was attended by 3,000 mourners.
The inquest relied on the testimony of a toxicologist who claimed to have found traces of cocaine in Dunner's blood and urine. Asked if the cocaine would have affected the victim's driving, the Bournemouth coroner Mr. Sheriff Payne told the "Sure, yes." After his death, Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks paid tribute to Dunner, saying he was "an outstanding exemplar of Jewish values and Jewish responsibility...whose work was done quietly behind the scenes and was all the more impressive for that.

"I didn't have cocaine on me - or anywhere in my office," Reaves said. "I don't have a substance-abuse problem. I'm fine. People are saying all this stuff about me, and it's not true."
John Reaves seemed to have it all. He was Tampa's foremost high-school football icon, leading Robinson High School to the brink of a state championship in 1967. At the University of Florida, he became the NCAA's all-time leading passer.
After a much-publicized restaurant altercation and standoff with police in 1980, in which he admitted "bottoming out" after several years of alcohol and drug addiction during an NFL career, he underwent treatment and pronounced himself clean. Later, he became quarterback of his hometown professional team, the United States Football League's Tampa Bay Bandits.
The hell-and-back story made the pages of Sports Illustrated. During the interview, the magazine's writer said Reaves, a born-again Christian, presented him with a Bible.Now trouble has again found Reaves, 58, a Realtor.
Tampa police arrested Reaves last week, charging him with possession of cocaine and introduction of contraband into a detention facility. He had been arrested on a warrant for aggravated assault firearm-possession earlier on Wednesday, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office jail Web site.
Reaves said Monday he pointed a gun at someone in self-defense and that law enforcement planted the cocaine on him.
"That's the truth, yes sir," said Reaves, who acknowledged he has resumed drinking after staying clear of alcohol for 20 years, but hasn't used cocaine in "many, many years."Drug Claim 'Isn't Correct'Told that Reaves said the cocaine had been planted, police spokeswoman Laura McElroy said, "His statement isn't correct, and it doesn't make sense because he was already going to jail on a more serious charge than possession of drugs."His bail was set at $9,000 after his arrest. He has been released from jail.Reaves pointed a chrome revolver at a person during an argument in June, and that person took pictures of the offense with a cell phone, a police report states.An officer went to Reaves' home to arrest him July 26 and could see someone looking out the window and later closing the wooden shutters on the inside of the front door."I had my firearm out and pointed it towards the door and ordered this individual out," the police report states. "This met with no avail."
After attempts failed to get the person out, a shift commander ordered officers out of the area, the report says.In the incident that led to the warrant, Tray Williams, who took the cell phone pictures, told police he was in his home with a friend when Reaves pulled into his driveway, blowing the car horn.Williams said that Reaves appeared intoxicated during the confrontation and "just started yelling profanities at me. It was just awful. Just way off the cuff."
Reaves asked whether Williams knew who he was and threatened him, Williams said.
Williams said he had moved a large foreclosure sign near his property and Reaves was upset. Williams said he left a note on the sign informing the owner that it was a traffic hazard and against city code.Reaves said he was a Realtor and "DO NOT TOUCH THAT SIGN AGAIN, YOU WANT ME TO HURT YOU," the report states.Reaves later pulled a gun on Williams, the report says.
Reaves said that during the argument, Williams had a cell phone in one hand and a gun in the other. The former football player said he took an unloaded gun out of his vehicle and pointed it at Williams in self-defense."I've never fired that gun," Reaves said. "I guess I didn't know you couldn't pull out a gun like that. I'm not a thief and I'm not a criminal, but I've made a lot of stupid mistakes.Reaves' attorney, Nicholas M. Matassini, said his client will plead not guilty to the charges against him.
"He was protecting himself, which he was entitled to do," Matassini said.
Williams said he was not carrying a gun in his confrontation with Reaves. He said he owns a gun but keeps it locked and inaccessible because he has children.
"I've got a family. It's just for protection," Williams said. "Nor would I ever think of pulling it out."
While Reaves was being processed at the jail, a deputy found cocaine in a bag in Reaves' possession, a second report states.
Reaves said six police officers stormed his office, ransacked it and searched every pocket he had before arresting him. "They stormed my office like I was Jesse James," he said.When he was searched in jail, a deputy pulled cocaine out of his pocket, he said. He claimed the police officers planted it there.

Ryan Glenn, 29, of Lubbock, was arrested Wednesday. Glenn was employed for two years by the Frenship Independent School District as a coach at Frenship Middle School and a teacher at Frenship High School. Linsae Snider, FISD director of public relations, announced at a press conference at the FISD central office Friday that Glenn submitted his resignation Friday morning.
“The Frenship Independent School District, like the rest of the community, was shocked to learn of the arrest of Mr. Ryan Glenn on drug-related charges,” Snider said. “The district has no evidence that during his employment, Mr. Glenn engaged in any illegal activity during school time.” Snider said all other inquiries regarding Glenn’s arrest should be directed to law enforcement officials.

John Xydias, 44, was prescribed the drug Rohypnol between 1992 and 1994 and there were suggestions he had access to it beyond this, though Xydias denied it. Xydias, of Glen Iris, has pleaded guilty to 25 counts of rape and 61 of indecent assault involving 11 women, four of whom are unidentified.
The offences occurred between 1991 and 2006 at the Glen Iris home Xydias shared with his parents and a family holiday house at Dromana. Prosecutor Michele Williams SC said Xydias' crimes were in the worst category of offending and they were so serious they may warrant being considered as a new category. Ms Williams said his sentence should be used to make his case an example of general deterrence. Dr Sullivan said Xydias had a strong interest in pornography but could not diagnose him with a sexual deviant disorder. "There are features that suggest he has a particular fantasy in his mind which he's living through with his actions," he said. Xydias also did not have a psychiatric history. Dr Sullivan said Xydias was naive, of below to borderline intelligence and tended to avoid direct responsibility for his actions.
He said Xydias denied drugging his victims, but said he gave them alcohol and tended to blame them. "(He'd say) he got mixed up with the wrong girls - they're rotten eggs," he said. Xydias' lawyer Remy van de Wiel QC said his client's sentence should not be crushing. He said his guilty plea was significant and saved the community a lot of money. Mr van de Wiel said while his offending was serious, it was not in the worst category and there was a good chance he could be rehabilitated given of his lack of prior convictions. Xydias will be sentenced at a date to be fixed.

new TMZ.com report claims that a staff member involved in the upcoming reality TV show Sober Living may have been behind the arrest of former Guns 'N'Roses drummer Steven Adler. He was arrested earlier this month in Hollywood and charged with possession of narcotics and being under the influence. But now, according to TMZ.com, it was a member of the Sober staff who called the cops after finding out that Adler was doing drugs in the house. Adler signed on to appear in Sober Living, a reality show tracking the lives of celebrities after they leave rehab. os Angeles police told the Associated Press that the 43-year-old drummer was arrested after officers were called to a home where a man was reportedly creating a disturbance and refusing to leave. Meanwhile, Adler's manager, David Weintraub, told TMZ.com, "Steven Adler's arrest was an unfortunate situation that didn't have to occur in the context of him starring in a television show." Adler recently took part in the second season of the VH1 reality series Celebrity Rehab, in which various stars struggle to beat their addictions. The new season will premiere this fall.

CNN reporter Richard Quest has returned to the cable news channel after a hiatus stemming from his drug arrest and court-ordered counseling, a spokesman for the Atlanta-based network said on Friday. Quest, known for his boisterous and quirky reporting, returned to CNN International in late June and has been producing general news segments and working on the August edition of "CNN Business Traveler," the show he hosted before his arrest, said Nigel Pritchard, a spokesman for CNN."We're very pleased to have him back," Pritchard said.Police stopped Quest, 46, in April for being in New York's Central Park past curfew, and they discovered a bag of methamphetamines on the British reporter.A judge ordered him to undergo six months of counseling in exchange for having the case dismissed.

Shia LaBeouf was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving Sunday after an early morning car accident in which he was injured, authorities said.
The "Indiana Jones" star was the driver of a pickup truck that was involved in a 3 a.m. collision in Hollywood, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Sgt. Scott Wolf said.
"It was immediately apparent to officers responding on the scene that LaBeouf was intoxicated and he was subsequently placed under arrest," Wolf said. LaBeouf was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center where he was being treated for a minor head injury and injuries to his left hand and a knee, Wolf said. A woman passenger in LaBeouf's truck and the driver of the other vehicle were not seriously injured.
Wolf said LaBeouf, 22, was booked then released for misdemeanor DUI.
Wolf did not know the identities of the woman or the other driver.
The accident occurred when LaBeouf, who was headed northbound on La Brea Avenue, tried to make a left turn onto Fountain Avenue, Wolf said. A collision occurred and LaBeouf's pickup rolled over. The cause of the crash remained under investigation and Wolf did not have additional details. Two of LaBeouf's publicists did not immediately return calls seeking comment Sunday. Neither did two attorneys listed as having represented LaBeouf. LaBeouf has been working as an actor for 10 years. He starred on the Disney Channel series "Even Stevens," starred in last year's
"Transformers," and this year appears opposite Harrison Ford in "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull."
LaBeouf has had previous brushes with the law, but each was relatively harmless—to the point that they reinforced his image as a Hollywood good-guy with an edge. In November, he was charged with misdemeanor criminal trespassing after a drunken a confrontation with security guards in a Chicago Walgreens.

He later told David Letterman on the "Late Show": "Drinking and driving is one thing, but drinking and shopping ... it's just as bad."

Prosecutors dropped charges because Walgreens Co. and a security company indicated they didn't want to continue the case.

LaBeouf was separately cited in February for smoking where he shouldn't in Burbank, but a judge later dismissed the charge.

According to a press release from the Murrieta Police Department, an “extremely intoxicated” Dick, 42, was arrested after police were called to the restaurant on a call of a disturbance by an intoxicated man urinating outside the building. When they arrived, they saw a truck leaving the scene and stopped it.
An LAPD spokesperson said a 17-year-old woman told them that Dick had left the restaurant, walked up to her and pulled down her tank top and bra, exposing her breasts. Dick’s friends then escorted the comedian to the truck, which was stopped a short distance away. Police lined up the men in the truck along the curb, and the alleged victim and a witness picked Dick out as the assailant.
After searching his pockets, police said they found marijuana and the anti-anxiety drug Xanax in his pockets. According to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, Dick was released on $5,000 bond and ordered to return to court on August 12. The latest legal problem for Dick is a kind of greatest-hits rehash of his past run-ins with the law, which include: a citation for urinating in public in Columbus, Ohio, last year (during a stint at a comedy club where he was reportedly intoxicated and groped some of the patrons); a 2004 arrest for indecent exposure outside a McDonald’s; an incident last year when he was booted from “Jimmy Kimmel Live” for repeatedly touching the breasts of guest Ivanka Trump without her permission; and a 1999 arrest for possession of cocaine and marijuana after his arrest for driving his car into a telephone pole in Hollywood.A spokesperson for the Murrieta Police Department could not be reached for comment at press time.

Maurice Johnson was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison and will remain on supervised probation 10 more years after that following a sentencing hearing Monday in Chattanooga on a federal cocaine distribution guilty plea.The 38-year-old former Sweetwater High School basketball star pleaded guilty in April to one count of a multi-count indictment that charged him with running a major crack cocaine ring out of a Madisonville game room.Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Neff said Johnson tried to withdraw his guilty plea at the last minute, however Judge R. Allan Edgar ruled the defendant did not meet the criteria to be granted a plea withdrawal.Johnson’s criminal past bumped up the minimum sentence requirement on his latest conviction.
“He had a federal felony drug conviction (in 2001) and that bumped it up from 10 to 20 years,” Neff said of the minimum sentence Johnson could serve.
The court waived any major fines against Johnson because of his inability to pay but Johnson is to pay a $100 special assessment.
Johnson had gotten previous charges for the same alleged crimes dismissed last year because a judge ruled his right to a speedy trial had been violated.
However, the judge’s ruling left the door open for prosecutors to revisit the Madisonville game room case.A federal grand jury indicted Johnson on the same charges again late last year.Authorities said Johnson began running a crack cocaine ring out of the M & M Game Room and Deli on Tellico Street in Madisonville not long after his release from prison in 2005 on a drug conviction.Officers from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and the Madisonville and Sweetwater police departments arrested Johnson near I-75 on March 31, 2006.Police said Johnson tried to swallow drugs when the officer closed in.Authorities contend Johnson’s drug operation was substantial.“The cost of drugs can vary,” then Sheriff Doug Watson said at the time. “But he was probably making about $36,000 a week selling crack cocaine.”
Neff said there is no parole for federal sentences and Johnson would have to serve at least 85 percent, 17 years, of his sentence.Neff said prisoners serving federal sentences have a chance to meet good behavior and other criteria to reduce their term from 100 percent to 85 percent. Johnson has a July 31 motions hearing pending on murder charges in Cleveland.Johnson stands charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the 1999 shooting deaths of three people in a Cleveland apartment.
Two other suspects are charged in connection with the fatal shootings.

On Friday New York cops in Manilus observed the Canadian singer and his companion, Stephanie Ford, sitting at a cafe table with what appeared to be cocaine in front of them, as they answered a police report about a suspicious vehicle nearby.
The substance tested positive for cocaine, according to police reports obtained by TMZ.com.Page and Ford have since been charged with felony possession of a controlled substance. They were both released on $10,000 bail.A representative for Barenaked Ladies tells TMZ.com, "We cannot comment because the matter is before the court. We are confident that out client Steven will be completely exonerated."The controversy could not have come at a worse time for Barenaked Ladies, who have just released a children's album.

Manlius Police say they arrested Steven Page, a lead singer for the band Barenaked Ladies, and two women on drug charges after cocaine and marijuana were found in a Fayetteville apartment.On Friday, July 11, around 2 a.m., police saw a vehicle with an open door in the driveway of a home on East Genesee Street.While investigating the car, officers saw a man and woman inside an apartment, at a kitchen table with a white capsule. Further investigation found the two were in possession of a substance that tested positive for cocaine.Police arrested Page, 38, of Toronto, Canada, and Stephanie Ford, of East Genesee Street, and charged them with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the 4th degree, a felony. Ford was also charged with unlawful possession of marijuana.Ford identified Page as a member of the band, according to police, and Page confirmed to officers that he was.
Both were arraigned in Manlius Town Court and released after posting bail; $10,000 for Page, $5,000 for Ford.Shortly after 8 a.m. on Friday, police arrested Christine Benedicto, of the same apartment, in connection with the drugs that were found.
Benedicto, who was not home at the time of the first two arrests, was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor, and unlawful possession of marijuana. She was arraigned in Manlius Town Court and released on her own recognizance.All three are scheduled to be back in court on July 17.

The troubled stuntman - real name Stephen Glover - had enrolled in a narcotics program to treat his drug addictions, but after allegedly getting clean, he has been moved to the secure mental ward at Los Angeles’ Cedars-Sinai Hospital.In an entry posted on his official website on Thursday, he writes: “I’m back in the loony bin trying to get my s**t right. I’ve now been clean for 115 days and I’m back in a mental institution.”He adds: “I did so much cocaine, Ketamine, PCP, nitrous oxide and all sorts of other drugs that, quite simply, my brain is f**ked up.”
Glover was ordered to enter the rehab facility after being charged with cocaine possession following his March 3rd arrest on suspicion of vandalizing his neighbours’ L.A. property.Earlier this week, it was announced the star is set for further legal troubles, after a security guard filed charges against him in relation to an alleged assault at the launch of Paris Hilton’s clothing line in August 2007.

Oscar-winning actress Tatum O'Neal has pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct in connection with her arrest for cocaine possession last month.
The former child star appeared in court yesterday and was ordered to spend two half-day sessions in a drug treatment program and pay the court $95.
The actress - daughter of actor Ryan O'Neal - was arrested by police last month after being spotted by a narcotics team exchanging money with a man near her New York home. O'Neal has previously battled heroin addiction and wrote of her struggle in her 2004 book, A Paper Life.

Rap star DMX was arrested for failing to appear in court and other complaints at a Phoenix airport on Wednesday, adding to his legal woes that include drug possession and animal cruelty charges.

A Maricopa County Sheriff's Office spokesman said DMX, 37, whose real name is Earl Simmons, was taken into custody after getting off an airplane from Florida. Last week, he was arrested twice in that state, once for driving without a license and again in a drug bust.In Phoenix, sheriffs arrested DMX for failure to appear in court, failure to pay fines and driving without a license, said Capt. Aaron Douglas, spokesman for the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office. The warrants are from past cases stemming from his arrests for marijuana possession and unauthorized driving of an all terrain vehicle (ATV), Douglas said.DMX's management company could not be reached for comment, and his attorney was not immediately available.The rapper, who has a home outside Phoenix, was arrested in Arizona in May on suspicion of drug possession and animal cruelty after searches of his home allegedly turned up weapons, drugs, dog carcasses and abused pit bulls.
DMX barricaded himself in his bedroom at his home during that arrest, before eventually surrendering.But he gave himself up without incident on Wednesday at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, as he stepped off a plane after arriving from Florida, Douglas said.DMX pleaded guilty in New Jersey to animal cruelty charges in 2002 for neglecting a dozen pit bulls, according to news reports. As part of his sentence he was required to make a public service announcement against animal abuse.While he is best known as a rapper, DMX also has acted in several movies including "Romeo Must Die" and "Exit Wounds

Olympic gold medalist Tim Montgomery’s plea agreement hearing is set for 2 p.m. in U.S. District Court in Norfolk, according to the court docket. Montgomery previously had pleaded not guilty and requested a jury trial on the charge, which carries a minimum 5-year prison term.Details of the plea deal were not available. The federal prosecutor’s office and defense attorney James O. Broccoletti did not immediately return phone messages.Montgomery, the former 100-meter world-record holder, was indicted for allegedly dealing more than 100 grams of heroin in Virginia. In May, a judge in New York sentenced Montgomery to 46 months in prison for his part in a multimillion-dollar fake-check scheme.The judge in the check fraud case told Montgomery that the evidence against him in the Virginia case “does not appear flimsy.”According to prosecutors, Montgomery met four times with a confidential informant from August to April, dealing a total of 111 grams of heroin for $8,450. Authorities recorded the meetings on audiotape and, in two cases, also on videotape. Drug Enforcement Administration agents also observed the transactions, a prosecutor said.In the New York case, Montgomery admitted he helped his former coach, Olympic champion Steve Riddick, and others cash $1.7 million in stolen and counterfeit checks. Riddick is serving a five-year prison term. Montgomery’s former companion, Olympic gold medalist Marion Jones, was sentenced to six months in prison for lying to investigators about the check-fraud scam and using steroids.Montgomery won a gold medal in the 400 relay at the 2000 Olympics and a silver medal in the 400 relay at the 1996 Olympics. He retired in 2005 after he was banned from track and field for doping. All of his performances after March 31, 2001, were wiped from the record books—including his world record of 9.78 seconds in the 100 meters in September 2002.

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