University of Virginia Library

Deavers Cites Drug Abuse Increase;
Heroin Use In County On The Rise

By PHIL KIMBALL

State narcotics agent Carl Deavers
stated last week that the drug abuse
situation in Charlottesville is rapidly
reaching sizeable proportions.

"Last year the heroin problem was in
its infancy with very few known cases of
abuse in this area," he said. "It has since grown
immensely in the last year not only at the
University level but at the high school level as
well."

He continued to day that, "It never ceases
to amaze me of the extent that I continue to
find out about the quantity of drugs brought
into this area and the constant demand for
them."

Mr. Deavers attributed the increase in the
use of heroin in the Charlottesville area to two
major factors. He stated that the geographic
accessibility of the drug and the increased
demand for it have combined to create a
sizeable traffic for the drug.

"Richmond, which is a very large source of
heroin on the East Coast, is now only an hour
away by interstate highway," he stated.

Also the Charlottesville drug culture has
tried everything else and when heroin became
readily available, this was the next step. We are
now experiencing a drug culture attitude
toward the use of the drugs. People from the
middle class white segment of the population
are reaching out for it when before it was
strictly a black ghetto problem."

Mr. Deavers further explained that state
narcotics agents working closely with
University officials and student informers to
curb the drug abuse problem at the University.

In regard to the use of student informers he
stated," "We welcome any source of information
that assists us in our investigation. Although it
is being done in Northern Virginia we are not
equipped at this time to pay for student
information."

"If we get any information or if we know
that a student is involved in the drug business
we contact the Security department informing
them that we are ready to conclude our
investigation. The department then contacts
University officials," he said.

"We try to reach the highest echelon in the
distribution of drugs we can," he continued.
"Our sole purpose is to get as high in the chain
as possible and cut it off. But as I pointed out
to the counselors in an earlier meeting this fall,
we cannot ignore possession cases. We wouldn't
be effective if we did."

"When a search or an arrest takes place I
advise the man of his constitutional rights.
These are the same rights which are advised to
any man when he is arrested for a felony. Then
I inform his of why I'm there then if he wants
he has permission to stay with me throughout
the search and to observe what is done."

Before a search or arrest takes place a
warrant must be obtained, Mr. Deavers
explained. "The only exception being that if
part of the information we have indicates that
the drug will be moved before a warrant could
be issued. Even then the information on which
the arrest is based must be the same as in any
other identical situation. It must also be proven
that there was no other choice but to conduct
the search without a warrant."

Before a search is conducted on the
University Ground Mr. Deavers stated that an
individual would have "to make an oath stating
that they personally had observed drugs in the
other person's possession and give particulars
about the incident such as time and place. Or
we would have to have information from a
proven reliable source. This is an individual
who, in previous occasions, has come to police
and given information which was found to be
true.

"In this case," he stated, "we protect the
individual under the law and are committed to
do so."

Referring to other drug cases Mr. Deavers
stated, "If an officer stopped a car for speeding
and has good probable cause to believe there
are narcotics in the car he can at that time
conduct a search of that car. He must however
be able to prove that there was in fact good
probable cause, such as marijuana smoke."

Mr. Deavers also stated that distribution as
well as the sale of drugs is a felony. While
further explaining that an officer may have,
evidence allowing all persons in a search to be
arrested for what is termed "joint possession"
of drugs, Mr. Deavers did say, "I have been in
cases where it was evident that the roommate
or other occupant of the house was not
involved with drugs to any extent and was
consequently not charged."