SC Lawyers Say Cops Making Arrests In Phelps Case

Banned · Post by **Banned** » Thursday Feb 12, 2009

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Police in the South Carolina county where Michael Phelps was photographed smoking from a marijuana pipe have been arresting people as they seek to make a case against the superstar swimmer, lawyers for two arrested people said Thursday.

Attorneys Joseph McCulloch and Dick Harpootlian told The Associated Press they each represent a client charged with possession of marijuana who were questioned about the party Phelps attended near the University of South Carolina campus in November.

The lawyers said the two clients were renters at the house where the party apparently took place, although they were not at the party. The two have since moved and were arrested after police executed a search warrant at their new home and accused them of having a small amount of marijuana there.

"After they arrested him, they didn't ask him, 'Where did you get the marijuana?' or 'Who sold it to you?' Almost all the questions they asked him were about Michael Phelps," Harpootlian said.

The lawyers would not name their clients, who each face up to 30 days in jail and a $200 fine if convicted on the pending charges.

The Richland County Sheriff's Office would not comment on the lawyers' remarks.

"As soon as we're ready to release information on this case we will and we're still in the middle of this investigation," said Lt. Chris Cowan.

After the photo was published Feb. 1, Sheriff Leon Lott said his office would investigate and possibly charge Phelps, though officials have not specified what the offense might be.

Phelps, 23, and his representatives have not disputed the photo's accuracy. Phelps has issued a public apology, acknowledging "regrettable" behavior and "bad judgment" after the photo appeared. USA Swimming has suspended Phelps for three months and the Kellogg Co. has cut ties with him, although other sponsors are sticking with the swimmer.

The lawyers said their clients were not at the party. McCulloch, who said his client was out of town at the time, doubted that anything they told police would assist them in the case against Phelps.

"Our clients answered questions but I don't know that their information would be helpful to law enforcement," McCulloch said. "It seems to me that Richland County has a host of its own crime problems much more serious than a kid featured in a photograph with a bong in his hand."

On a "Good Morning America" broadcast Thursday, McCulloch characterized the arrests as "a fascination, if not an effort, to destroy a public hero."

Lott has said Phelps should not get a break because of his fame. Harpootlian told The Associated Press that he believes police are being overzealous.

"I find it amazing the justification is they don't want to treat him any differently just because he is a celebrity, and he is being treated far differently than any other Joe Blow who might have smoked marijuana four or five months ago."

Under South Carolina law, possession of one ounce or less of marijuana is a misdemeanor that carries a fine up to $200 and 30 days in jail for the first offense. Possession of drug paraphernalia is a $500 fine.

Columbia television station WIS-TV was first to report earlier this week that eight arrests related to the party had been made, but did not name a source. McCulloch said college students and lawyers have told him that about eight arrests have been made.

Lott has made fighting drug crimes a central plank of his career. He rose from patrol officer to captain of the narcotics division in the early 1990s. He was first elected sheriff in 1996 and has held the post since.

songsmith · Post by **songsmith** » Thursday Feb 12, 2009

This Lott guy's just an effin' apple-polisher. It's misdemeanor possession at the very most, but it looks AWESOME on a resume. "I destroyed a famous criminal." He probably wears his Smokey-Bear hat to bed.
Bet the rent money you'll soon be hearing from the local DA, too. They exist for this shyte.--->JMS

lonewolf · Post by **lonewolf** » Thursday Feb 12, 2009

It sounds to me like there's a sheriff and some deputies who need to spend 30 days with a billy club up their ass.

Banned · Post by **Banned** » Thursday Feb 12, 2009

Wasn't Mayberry RFD in S. Carolina? I wonder if the deputy carries his 1 bullet in his shirt pocket? This is probably this biggest thing to hit this town since Andy Griffith stopped for a fill up at the local gas station.

RobTheDrummer · Post by **RobTheDrummer** » Thursday Feb 12, 2009

They don't even have a case. First they would have to prove that that was actually Phelps in the picture. Second, they would have to have proof that he smoked it. There is no evidence to support any kind of prosecution, in other words, this case is up in smoke. (had to say it!)

Banned · Post by **Banned** » Thursday Feb 12, 2009

I said it before, THERE WAS NO SMOKE IN THE BONG!!

Maybe he was test-drivin' it...

SnOOge!!

Drum-Wolf · Post by **Drum-Wolf** » Friday Feb 13, 2009

Yes, perhaps Phelps was just POSING with the bong. You know, PRETENDING to be utilizing it. Maybe TESTING the air flow as well. It was in bad judgement to do that. I side with all Phelps supporters on this.

Banned · Post by **Banned** » Friday Feb 13, 2009

this is funny...people can get away with being alcoholics or cokeheads with no problem. once pot is mentioned everyone wants to get tough. this country sucks.

bassist_25 · Post by **bassist_25** » Friday Feb 13, 2009

undercoverjoe wrote: This is probably this biggest thing to hit this town since Andy Griffith stopped for a fill up at the local gas station.

LOL

That reminds me of that episode of Married With Children where they take a vacation, and they could "Meet the guy who met Andy Griffith," who turned out to be a serial killer.

The Defining Hour · Post by **The Defining Hour** » Friday Feb 13, 2009

maybe he thought it was a Spirometry test for his lungs? I bet the fucker got tricked!

Banned · Post by **Banned** » Friday Feb 13, 2009

Maybe he didn't inhale. Clinton got away with that one.

songsmith · Post by **songsmith** » Saturday Feb 14, 2009

Oh here we go. Clinton inhaled.
Bush: "You know, I can't really remember if I used cocaine back then."
Riiiiiiigghhht.
There's an idea circulating that the Dan Rather/CBS implosion of the last election cycle was a Karl Rove concoction. There was evidence that Bush was court-ordered to do community service in the early 70's as part of an arrest, but the original arrest charges are nowhere to be found. One wonders why, when he was to be flying fighter-jets, he wasn't, and why at the same time he was ordered to do community service. The speculation is that CBS was closing in on a coke bust that was covered up by Bush 41 and his cohorts. The fact that Bush 43 was also AWOL for awhile at a time he was due to be tested for drugs points to his not being able to pass a drug test, which would have permanently grounded him and his career. It would seem that GWB had a drug problem that was serious enough that he couldn't clean up for the few days necessary to get blow out of your system, so Dad took care of it. The doctored papers Dan Rather signed off on? It wasn't revealed during that election cycle because of journalistic ethics, but it was later determined that those papers came from a source inside the White House. That's why Rather felt so strongly that they were real. Who, inside the White House?
Maybe it was the guy who push-polled people in 2000 saying that McCain had an illegitimate black baby. Or that Ann Richards was a lesbian activist. Or that Scott McClelland was a crybaby who couldn't do his job. Who? his name starts with a K, and ends with arl Rove.
Clinton may have inhaled. Bush inhaled through a rolled-up dollar bill. He also readily admits to alcoholism. Clinton admits to getting a BJ.
Anyway, it's all ancient history. Lincoln slept with a dude, and often wept openly at his desk. It's all in the past.--->JMS

lonewolf · Post by **lonewolf** » Saturday Feb 14, 2009

bassist_25 wrote:
undercoverjoe wrote: This is probably this biggest thing to hit this town since Andy Griffith stopped for a fill up at the local gas station.
LOL

That reminds me of that episode of Married With Children where they take a vacation, and they could "Meet the guy who met Andy Griffith," who turned out to be a serial killer.

Me too. Don't forget, Dumpwater, FL only had 2 things:

The man who met Andy Griffith and Poppy's Killer. When Poppy's killer turned out to be the man who met Andy Griffith, they let him go because they couldn't afford to lose both--besides, he had to speak at the high school that night. Classic.

DirtySanchez · Post by **DirtySanchez** » Saturday Feb 14, 2009

lonewolf wrote:
bassist_25 wrote:
undercoverjoe wrote: This is probably this biggest thing to hit this town since Andy Griffith stopped for a fill up at the local gas station.
LOL

That reminds me of that episode of Married With Children where they take a vacation, and they could "Meet the guy who met Andy Griffith," who turned out to be a serial killer.
Me too. Don't forget, Dumpwater, FL only had 2 things:

The man who met Andy Griffith and Poppy's Killer. When Poppy's killer turned out to be the man who met Andy Griffith, they let him go because they couldn't afford to lose both--besides, he had to speak at the high school that night. Classic.

Seriously miss this show