Tom's Trial [Cont'd]

San Francisco July 14-- In what is a landmark medical marijuana case in San Francisco, Tom's preliminary hearing was heard yesterday at the Hall of [In]Justice in Judge Charles Haines' courtroom.

Inspector John Keane testified that he worked for the SFPD for thirteen years, the last eight years as an undercover officer in the Narcotics Division.

He admitted to arresting hundreds of cannabis dealers and users during his career.

On June 16th, 2002, at 2:30 PM, he used a club card to make a purchase from Tom and then had him arrested by other officers.

Immediately after Tom was taken into custody, SFPD Inspector[s] Vaquez, Casey and a third officer broke into Tom's apartment in Oakland without a search warrant to find a small cache of drugs and medicine, as well as finding his checkbook, which they used to steal approximately $9,000 from Tom's bank account.

Keane opened up the evidence and described the contents, to which Asst. DA Dennis Chow asked that the plastic bag not to be opened because it contained biohazardous substances [sic: pot], but his able public defender, Carla Gomez, opened it, despite the protestations of the court clerk, who claimed he is allergic to marijuana [which is pure crap, he may be allergic to mold, which is what happens to cannabis locked in the dank basment of the SFPD's property room].

Keane denied informing Tom that he was a patient [which is a lie} and said at no time did he mention medical cannabis [another lie].

When questioned about whether or not he was member of the Emerald Society, a policeman's secret fraternal oerganization for cops of Irish descent who are fiercely opposed to medical cannabis, he laughed and failed to answer the question.

Judge Haines ruled the evidence seized from Tom's apartment was inadmissable as evidence except to show intent and dropped all charges, except the cannabis charges and ordered that his checkbook and savings be returned.

Tom Juzbasic's trial will begin in Department 22, 850 Bryant St at 9 AM on July 28, 2004. Be there to support Tom and get a good, long look at some of the SFPD's most notorious narcs and hear them spread their trail of perjury and deceit in open court.

For more information about the Emerald Society:
http://www.interx.net/~balees/