Recently we have been working on stories about children being taken from their parents just because they are employed in the medical marijuana industry. Well we have another story. And this, as is every other, is unique in its own way. The story I am about to tell you is about the various counts of people abusing their position as a higher rank, acting more childish than the very children they’re trying to deceive. Using children against their own parents because they have found that its method hits a vulnerable spot for most everybody.
Riah was born in San Diego, Ca but moved here twelve years later to find himself with three wonderful children. Overtime Riah has learned about his culture being Native American and has become a very strong believer of the ways. Since he has been here, he has also become a patient to medical marijuana and has began growing as well. While being a caregiver he treats every patient that comes in with respect. He is very sympathetic to other’s and does not use this experience as just a” quick buck”. The money that he does get from this goes to making sure his children are taken care of first and foremost. Riah also shares the home with the mother of his children. Even though they may not be together, they can respect each other enough for their kids.
Before you know it, the cops are profiling Riah as an addicted drug dealer who neglects his children. The police (acting like rats) found a small crack they can get into and showed up due to an anonymous call by a worried citizen who witnessed the mother allegedly pulling their son’s hair in a grocery store parking lot. The first thing they did was retrieve the two girls of 6, 10yrs from school for questioning. As the law is stated the police are not allowed to speak to children under the age of 18 without parents consent. The principal of the school, who is supposed to act solely on what is best for the children, introduced the cops, who are to only act lawfully, as “friends, there to ask fun questions about the school and community”. When really, they asked about drug use within the home, or any sign of abuse to any of the children. Of course the kids were raised in an open, loving environment which means they had nothing to say that the police/social services wanted to hear. So they dug deeper.
Now that they have completed the illegal interview with the two girls they wanted to get their hands on the 4yr old little boy. The cops and social worker showed up to the home to have the “interview” with their son. (Now do keep in mind that the cops are only there to escort the social worker and nothing else). They were informed by the residents at the home they were not allowed in and that they would need to leave the property immediately. Being the fools that they law enforcement is refused to leave the home and used an excuse that they believed the young boy was in harm. Once Riah advised the officers on site that they would need a warrant if they wanted to come in it set the fuse for a ticking bomb.
The police being hot headed called in an immediate grow and would not allow the residents back into their own home. Getting in the home the only way they know how, they bullied Riah into allowing them to see inside, but not without him being there to supervise their every move. After all to us, that’s just a group of strangers scavenging through your house like some desperate vultures.
Once inside they spread out like a wildfire and made up some talk like they’re securing the premises. Again, over an hour later, well after they knew the young child was fine, they were asked to leave once again. Unsurprisingly they refused but now they had time to come up with a bogus story. A scary ass excuse of, “we need to make sure your friend Bob is not upstairs with a shotgun waiting to attack us when we leave.” Which is preposterous because Riah and family have been quite cooperative given the circumstances. Eventually he packed his family’s things for a night and left. After all they were not under arrest and still had no reason to be harassed the way they were.
At this point they have all three children in social services with the youngest boy away from his other two sisters. Throughout all this, the system who is to serve and protect is not giving a damn about what they do to the innocent children and to the family whose done nothing to be prosecuted for. Now Riah does confess to having one or two hallucinogenics in the home and says that it is arguable that he has the right as a Native to practice his religion. Therefore is allowed to possess a certain amount of peyote, etc. Because this is such a strong belief, Riah does not have regrets about having those in the home and knows that every one has the right to practice their own religion. Everyone was trying to prove that they were not only unfit parents but unfit for the society when they were being some of the most rational people. Knowing what kind of damage this may cause the children Riah had to make the most sincere act of signing custody over to his father-in-law. Although that was not going to get the children home. Not until the fight is over and they had Riah in prison. “I will not be persuaded to buckle!” he stated during an interview.
The parents did have visitation rights and had to keep in touch with attorneys and GAL’s (guardian at lid om). A few days after the Civil court date the principal got in contact with Riah and asked him to come down to the school. On his drive over there he had a raw feeling that he was being set up, the police were probably furious that they couldn't arrest him at the children’s court date days before. Sure enough as he pulled up as the principal was there waiting with Task Force to arrest him as soon as they could. What better way to get back at someone than set up an arrest in front of an elementary school, right? All the cops know is arrest and ask questions later. Guilty until proven innocent. Once he proved that he was a licensed medical marijuana grower they released him on bond leaving him 5 months he must serve unless charges are dismissed due to illegal search and questioning minors. After a total of 70 days without his children he was reassigned custody of all three of them.
During a rally Riah confronted Tom Slone Chief of Police and asked him why they remove children from growing homes but the only response was an invite to speak in his office. But that said was enough of an answer for all of us. Also during the same rally Riah asked his daughter why she thinks that he brings her to those events.... and the warm hearted answer we received from a 7yr old child was, "So that people know it's ok." After a long, hard fought battle, Riah agreed to a plea of two years on probation with the catch that he cannot be a grower during his probation term. Once again, Riah, thinking of his children first, agreed to the plea instead of "fighting the good fight". The children are now back in the home and although they will have permanant scaring from the trauma; children can be relentless and will grow not only as individuals but all as a family as well.
Shantel Lo
