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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 27, 2002)
• " P o r t ia n i» Page A2 — (f)h s e ru rr ^Portland T "^ t B lack H istory M o n th 2002 spedai A A ’ . 1 M ERIC 1 A F S T Ö R I ' edition ------- February 27,2002 "V ~ T * £ P olice / V ancouver Seven People Overdose on GHB Club Drug (AP) - Portland police and emergency services personnel are warning people about the club drug GHB after seven people over dosed on the drug, including two who suffered convulsions and stopped breathing. The recent cases raised con cerns among police and county health officials that the drug is gaining in popularity. “More likely than not, some body mixed their own batch and thought they were going to go and make their own money,” said Officer Pat W alsh o f the Police The drug and other substitutes Bureau’s drugs and vice division. t are often used in combination with The two who went into convul sions were in critical condition other recreational drugs such as when they arrived at hospitals Ecstasy that are commonly used and had to be resuscitated, said by people in their late teens and early 20s at all-night dance parties D r. Jo h n Ju i, d ire c to r o f Multnomah County ’ s Emergency known as raves. Medical Services. “W e’ve seen this drug for a while, but I think it’s now hitting GHB, or g am m a hydroxybutyrate, is a colorless, the rave scene,” Jui said. “We really don’t know the extent or odorless liquid that can cause nausea, vomiting and respiratory severity o f it, but it’s certainly arrest. It has been in the Portland escalating. We need tojoin forces area for at least the past five years, with law enforcement to educate law enforcement and medical au the public and determ ine its thorities said. sources.” New System Tracks Criminals Phone call gives victims information on the status of offenders ( AP) — Crime victims and the general public now can get up dated information on the status of criminal offenders under a new system launched on Thursday. “This will be a major new re source for crime victims and other concerned citizens in Oregon,” Attorney General Hardy Myers said at a news conference. “A c cess to offender information is a critical step as these victims re construct their lives.” Callers to a computerized an swering center, by entering an offender’s name or state offender identification number, will be able to find out information including what institution the person is in. whether he or she is on probation or in a community corrections pro gram and any expected prison re lease date. The free service is available 24 hours a day, in both English and Spanish. Citizens also can register in the system, known as Victim Informa tion Notification Everyday, and be autom atically notified by phone if the status of an offender changes. The system is operated by the state Corrections Depart ment.- “This is a good day for crime victims,” said Steve Doell of Lake Oswego, president of Crime Vic tims United. “There aren’t many good days for crime victims.” The system includes data on more than 41,000 felony and mis demeanor offenders under state supervision, including those on parole and probation. By October, the system will add another 7,500 offenders who are in county jails and juveniles supervised by the Oregon Youth Authority. The system is budgeted to cost about $338,000 a year, paid for from the State’s crime victims’ fund that comes from such sources as fines and other penalties and restitution. The toll-free number is 1 -%T1- 674-8463. 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It’s con sidered addictive and causes with drawal symptoms. LonMabon (AP) — A nti-gay rights cru sader Lon M abon was arrested and placed in jail last week after a M ultnom ah C ounty Judge ruled he was in contem pt o f court. Mabon, director of the anti gay Oregon Citizens Alliance, must remain in jail until he agrees C r im e S to p p e r s Clues Sought in Police Impersonation The Portland Police Bureau Elder Crimes Response Team, in cooperation with Crime Stop pers, is asking for your help in identifying the individuals re sponsible for falsely present ing themselves as members of a crime prevention unit. On Tuesday, Feb. 19 at about 12:45 in the afternoon, a white van with “Portland Police Crime Prevention Bureau” in blue let ters on the side, pulled into the driveway o f a home in the 4500 block o f Southeast 99th Avenue. Two men wearing what ap peared to be uniform style shirts with badges stated they were there to conduct a security sur vey o f the house. As one man reportedly stood by the door, the other examined doors and windows before leaving. One of the suspects is de scribed as a white male in his mid 20’s, 5’9” tall, with a heavy build. The other is described as a white male in his mid 30’s, 6’ 1 ” tall, with a thin build. Although the Portland Po lice Bureau has a locks program with uniformed personnel, they carry police bureau identifica tion, and would not contact a homeowner without a prior ap pointment. They operate a van with multi-colored, police bu reau markings on the side. Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward o f up to $ 1,000 for information, reported to Crime Stoppers, which leads to a reso lution in this case, and you can remain anonymous. Call Crime Stoppers at (503) 823-HELP. to appear at a judgm ent debt hearing, or for six months, which ever comes first. His wife and O CA ’s execu tive treasurer, Bonnie, was or dered to report to jail in 10 days to serve the sam'e sentence. “ I can a ssu re y o u , M r. Mabon, that it is not a pleasant thing to do, but 1 feel that it ’ s my duty to make this system work the best way I know how and 1 find no alternative,” said Judge Ronald E. Cinniger. The Mabons are fighting a c o u rt-o rd ered ju d g m e n t for $30,000 in damages in favor of a gay rights activist w ho was roughed up at an anti-gay event. The Mabons claim the judge has no power in the case because he took an improperly worded judi cial oath. Agents Raid Home of Iraqi Native (AP) — U.S. Customs Service agents raided the Tigard apart ment of a 7 1-year-old Iraqi im m i grant Feb. 20 as a part of a nation wide move against people sus pected of illegally sending money to Iraq. H iw aid i A l-S h e ik h ly fled Saddam H ussein’s Iraq in 1992, a year after the Persian G ulf War, according to his daughter, Zeineb Alturky. She said the officers woke her father, then searched his apartment for several hours, taking $2,125, receipts and other documents. Agents served 19 warrants in 14 states on the same day. No one was arrested. O fficials said those targeted were agents for Alshafei Family Contact Inc., a money transfer busi ness created in 1998 to serve Iraqi refugees in the United States who wanted to send money home to their families. Alturky said she regularly sends money to her sister, who also has diabetes. “W hat’s going to hap pen to her? She depends on us.” Police Catch Fleeing Suspect Vancouver police captured a man who ran from a suspected residential burglary last week. Craig Douglas Stewart, 23, was arrested shortly after neighbors reported suspicious activity in front of a home in the 4800 block o f East Fifth Street at about 1 p.m. on Feb. 15. P olice said w hen they re sponded to the complaint, Stewart attempted to run away from the back o f the house. He was cap tured after a foot chase up a steep embankment. Stolen property, in cluding a camera, jew elry, power tools, vehicle titles and identifica tion were recovered. Burglar Rapes Vancouver Woman Vancouver police are looking for a man who broke into a resi dence through an open window and raped a woman inside. Police say it happened during the predawn hours on Jan. 26 in the 3100 block o f Southeast 168*' Avenue. The victim did not know the suspect, police said. He was de scribed as a Hispanic male, 18-30 years o f age, with a heavy build, dark complexion and dark hair. Those with information on this case are asked to call lead detec tive Jane Easter at 360-735-8822or Detective Sgt. Lou Braafladt at 360-696-8226. W ELLS FARGO The Next Stage* THE COFFEEHOUSE BRANCH free checking free direct deposit free 24-hour telephone banking free online banking free Bill Pay for two months* free to bank anytime, anywhere Life was not meant to be lived inside a box. 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