Sheriff: No slack for Phelps because he is celebrity

Here's an update on the potential for legal action being taken against Michael Phelps as a result of the infamous "bong picture" that appeared over the weekend in a British newspaper.

Richland County (S.C.) Sheriff Leon Lott said in a statement Tuesday that his department was investigating the incident and that he "would not turn a blind eye because someone is a celebrity."

The sheriff was referring to the Feb. 2 edition of the British tabloid News of the World, which had a picture of Phelps sucking on a glass pipe. Such a device generally is used to inhale cannabis, an illegal drug. The newspaper said the photo was taken at a party that reportedly took place Nov. 6 in Columbia, S.C.

"If someone breaks the law, we have an obligation to investigate and to bring charges," Lott said. "The Richland County Sheriff's Department is making an effort to determine if Mr. Phelps broke the law. If he did, he will be charged in the same manner as anyone else. The Sheriff has a responsibility to be fair, to enforce the law and to not turn a blind eye because someone is a celebrity."

Lott, whom the Associated Press described as "known for his tough stance on drugs," is a two-time winner of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers' Assn.'s "Toughest Cop" award (1999 and 2004).

-- Philip Hersh

Comments

[Melinda Ray]

Leon,

Let's not put ourselves on the map once again for lack of good judgement.

I do agree, that if you start making accusations from pictures, you may as well start investigating facebook and myspace.

Although, I agree, this person lacked good judgement. But let's not make bad decisions. I am sure we have enough potheads in Columbia to chase.

Thanks,
Melinda

[Citizen]

Hey Sherrif, President Obama admited to pot and coke use, are you going DC to bust him too?

[Kurt]

Give the man a break. It's just pot, not crack or anything. Alcohol does much more damage to lives and families than pot. We are just human and none are perfect. He's a great guy and like him for who he is.

[Robert]

What a tool!!! Maybe its a Southern thing among law enforcement to try to make a name for yourself. Remember DA Mike Nifong. Anyways I don't know how Lott is going to prove anything. Phelps hasn't specifically admitted to taking pot. For all Leon knows there was nothing in the bowl.

[Mark McCray]

Haha. What a lame attempt at a shot at getting 15 minutes of fame.

If a sheriff ever brought these charges to Phelps, a 3rd grade kid could get them dropped in court.

Now, we all know what he was smoking, but you can't prove what it was in a court of law!

People routinely smoke Tobacco out of bongs that are purchased legally for just that purpose.

Like Robert said, remember Nifong? If this sheriff chooses to pursue this, he too will live in humiliation.

[matt]

My state of South Carolina in the news for the wrong reasons again....this time, it's Leon, Richland County's Chief of the Fun Police. I'm glad I live across the river in Lexington County.....

[I LIVE SOMEWHERE ELSE!!!!]

Go read S. Carolina's newspapers. They are filled with sex offender crimes and meth problems!! GO FIX YOUR REAL PROBLEMS and quit trying to capitalize on 15 minutes of fame!! YOU LOSER!!!

[Bob Marley]

First off, they need to reevaluate the personnel at the sherrif's station. I mean, what sherrif in their right mind acts this way? Is he serious? First of all, has he even seen the picture? There's no smoke anywhere. All he is doing is holding the bong and posing with it. Yes, he's acting as if he's taking a rip, but if you look at the picture, there's no smoke coming out of the bowl or out of the chamber. Even if he did clear the chamber, there'd still be smoke somewhere in the picture. Plus, he has both hands on the bong and there's no one near the bowl with a lighter. As a 20-year veteran in pot-smoking, I know a pothead when I see one and Michael Phelps is not a pothead. I guarantee his lungs would outlast that stupid sherrif. Michael Phelps has apologized and acknowledged that his behavior was inappropriate. Are not 23 year old Olympic champions allowed to make mistakes? Michael Phelps has brought to this country great pride and 8 gold medals. What have you done sherrif? Obviously nothing if all you can do is piggy back off of someone elses fame to get some of your own. How pathetic. Michael Phelps is just a kid growing up. And if that stupid sherrif never made a mistake while in his youth, then he should've become a pope and not a sherrif. It's sherrifs like him that make me listen to NWA's greatest hit, F.T.P! By the way, I've been listening to Bob Marley's "I Shot the Sherrif" while typing this out... Now let me get back to my spliff. PEACE!

[Mel O.]

It doesn't hurt anybody.

Legalize it already!