CROSS LANES, W.Va. — Kanawha County sheriff’s deputies are applauding a man who turned himself into police last month after watching President Barack Obama’s speech in Charleston about drug abuse.
“He turned over the drugs that were in his possession, so that they would not fall into the wrong hands, so they would not be abused by somebody. That’s the right reaction,” said Sgt. Brian Humphreys.
The Cross Lanes man, whose name has not been released, turned in a cooler filled with a pharmacy-worth of drugs including nearly 150 painkillers, 19 grams of ecstasy, marijuana and 16 Suboxone packs and patches. No criminal charges were filed against him.
Humphreys said regardless of any speech or intervention the man may have heard that prompted him to turn the drugs over to police, law enforcement and first responders genuinely want to help people with addiction.
“There’s not just an automatic reaction to arrest somebody just because they have drugs in their possession if they are the ones calling out to us asking for help,” he said.
In other situations, Humphreys said an arrest may be necessary.
“I couldn’t promise the same response if you get caught on a traffic stop or if you’re dealing drugs and you get caught,” he said. “You’re probably going to be charged criminally and I think that’s the right call.”
The man was brought to a treatment center where he entered a rehab program to battle his drug addiction.